1970 Films, 70's Horror, British, British Horror, Horror, Thriller

And Soon the Darkness-1970

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And Soon the Darkness-1970

Director Robert Fuest

Starring Pamela Franklin, Sandor Elès

Scott’s Review #1,541

Reviewed July 19, 2026

Grade: B+

With similarities to Claude Chabrol films, an influential French director who made, among others, Le Boucher (1970), And Soon the Darkness has immeasurable appeal for cinema fans of thrillers and horror to suckle on.

Throwing Alfred Hitchcock components in the mix like proper tension, an enthralling buildup, and an old-fashioned whodunit for good measure, the film largely works well.

While it’s admittedly a slow-build film, I rather like this quality, since the payoff works.

A grown-up Pamela Franklin (the little girl from The Innocents, 1961) stars as Jane, a young British nurse bicycling through the French countryside while on holiday with her friend Cathy (Michele Dotrice).

They encounter a handsome yet mysterious Frenchman who begins to follow them. While Cathy is titillated, Jane is cautious as the girls navigate the lonely roadways miles away from a populated town.

After a row, Jane and Cathy go their separate ways. When Jane returns to the village where they’re staying, her friend is nowhere to be found.

Frantic, she searches for Cathy.

One perplexity with And Soon the Darkness is with its title. There is nary a scene that takes place in darkness or at any time other than bright sunlight.

I expected to see characters fleeing peril under a moonlit sky or cowering in dark, dingy barns, post midnight, but the film’s overall tone is bright and airy.

Instead, frequent scenes show Jane and Cathy casually riding their bikes along sparsely populated side roads or enjoying a relaxing roadside meal at a cafe.

All in the daytime hours.

Despite the light, director Robert Fuest nonetheless successfully creates a sense of eeriness. In horror films, darkness is a key prop and an easy way to create a proper atmosphere.

I’m amazed by the result and the constant tension that abounds.

The best tense scene is when Cathy is left alone on the side of the road, where she sunbathes and naps, intent on enjoying her downtime.

Realizing that Jane is gone and perhaps harboring slight regret over their fight, she begins to hear the crack of twigs, the wind, and a singing bird.

Thanks to some fine camerawork, the audience suspects that someone is watching Cathy through the trees as the camera looks through branches.

The character and viewer slowly realize that she is not imagining things. This is confirmed when a pair of her underpants disappears, and the spokes of her bicycle tire are suddenly damaged.

The scene is lengthy and highly effective.

With Cathy missing in action, the events turn to Jane’s point of view, and a riveting whodunit emerges. She encounters several characters all acting suspiciously, and she learns that a young female tourist about her age was raped and murdered a year ago.

A tense Frenchwoman, Madam Lassal, and her husband, who owns a cafe; a British schoolmistress; a gendarme (police officer); and his ailing father all become suspects.

When the mysterious stranger (Sandor Elès) reappears and claims to be a detective named Paul, Jane is reassured. Should she instead be suspicious?

Whereas Claude Chabrol’s films tend to be psychological and fraught with deep emotional turmoil, And Soon the Darkness sticks with action-oriented themes.

Made in 1970, the film may have influenced other 1970s horror films such as Last House on the Left (1972) and I Spit on Your Grave (1978), as well as later slasher films like Friday the 13th (1980).

The use of remote forests, camps, barns, and other outdoor, lonely places in broad daylight is inspiring.

A straight-up horror thriller with little blood or gore, And Soon the Darkness (1970) chooses not to delve deeply into character motivations but instead presents a tension-infused thrill ride.

1975 Films, 70's Horror, Action, Horror, Satanic, Thriller

Race with the Devil-1975

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Race with the Devil-1975

Director Jack Starrett

Starring Peter Fonda, Warren Oates

Scott’s Review #1,540

Reviewed July 13, 2026

Grade: A-

The 1970s saw the rise of many mainstream horror films that dealt with the occult. They’ve always been around, but thanks to the sizzling success of movies like The Exorcist (1973), they grew larger audiences and emboldened them to do more daring things.

Race with the Devil (1975) is a surprisingly enthralling piece directed by Jack Starrett. The film never lags and paces well with action and characters in peril that are easy to root for.

In fact, despite classifying it as a horror film, it’s part action, thriller, and horror all rolled into one.

Anyone who enjoys classic car chases and dusty backroads, for example, will enjoy this film.

It stars Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit (television’s M*A*S*H*), and Lara Parker (television’s Dark Shadows), bigger names that undoubtedly led audiences to see it based on star recognition alone.

The film also leverages the recent success of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Deliverance (1972), borrowing their remote locales and the corruption of the local police force and townspeople to heighten the mystique.

Roger (Fonda), his friend Frank (Oates), and their wives (Parker and Swit) embark on a lengthy RV road trip from bustling San Antonio to the wilderness of rural Texas for some off-road motocross and good times.

Their final destination is the ski slopes of Colorado.

While enjoying the deserted landscape late one boozy night, they stumble upon a Satanic cult human sacrifice in the distance, and are unfortunately caught observing the ritual by the assailants.

This catapults the foursome into a cat-and-mouse extravaganza with the cult members as they try to flee the local town after receiving no help from the local authorities.

To say the film has some thrills is an understatement. The most exciting sequence occurs in the claustrophobic RV setting when two deadly snakes pop out from an overhead cabinet, causing the group to go ballistic with fear.

They careen across the highway, trying to keep their footing and avoid being bitten by the angry reptiles.

Minor characters, the group meets as they trek as far away from the incident as possible, are filled with mystery and a hint of the sinister.

Is Sheriff Taylor (R.G. Armstrong), who appears to laugh off the reported incident as a misunderstanding, part of the cult? How about the wacky couple the group has drinks with, Delbert and Ethel?

Finally, the lengthy car chase in the film’s final act is cinematographically impressive. A film with a satanic storyline risks feeling amateurish or hokey, but its technical achievements are as rich as its other qualities.

Proof is by the numerous car crashes and heart-stopping twists and turns that occur amid the barren landscape of northern Texas and the nearly two hundred miles of nothingness they must face before reaching a highway.

And the editing and the somewhat surprising ending are fabulous.

While we know little about the four principal characters, aside from Roger and Frank owning some motorcycle dealership, it hardly matters.

Each seems intelligent and kind, merely victims of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The audience easily feels we could be friends with them.

Therefore, we care about them and their predicament.

When a fan belt breaks or a window is smashed, we feel the peril along with the characters. During a lighter moment, when the wives ‘borrow’ library books after being scolded by a cold library worker, we snicker in victory alongside them.

Race with the Devil (1975) borrows from other horror films, but it doesn’t feel like a carbon copy either.

Fresh ideas, like the snakes and the luxury RV, combined with superior acting and the terrific chemistry among the leads, make the film work.

1967 Films, Drama, Romantic Drama, San Francisco, Social Issues

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner-1967

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Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner-1967

Director Stanley Kramer

Starring Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Sidney Poitier

Scott’s Review #1,539

Reviewed June 29, 2026

Grade: A

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is a groundbreaking, socially themed film made in 1967, in the midst of the Civil Rights movement that was sweeping the United States.

The rights aimed to abolish legalized racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement in the country, which most commonly affected African Americans.

So, the time was perfect for a star-studded film of this caliber.

The screenplay by William and Tania Rose is rich with character motivation and development.

Both the characters themselves and audiences can understand the perspectives of each of the six prominent characters as they slowly explain their thoughts and, at times, their underlying unconscious biases.

At the time of release, the film was understandably a commercial and critical hit during a fabulous time in cinema.

On the threshold of increased creative richness in the 1970s, the late 1960s were the building blocks to expressionism and tremendous cinematic thought.

The film was one of the first to depict an interracial marriage in a positive light.

While a film like Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner would be dated if made in 2026, sadly, lots of blatant racism and discrimination still exist in the United States, though we have certainly made progress.

Joey Drayton (Katharine Houghton) is a young, free-thinking white woman from a wealthy family in San Francisco. She and a successful black doctor, John Prentice (Sidney Poitier), become engaged.

In addition to their racial differences, he is much older than she is and has been married once before.

They nervously fly to San Francisco to meet her parents and break the news, and they are to be married two weeks later in Switzerland.

Matt Drayton (Spencer Tracy) and his wife, Christina (Katharine Hepburn), are open-minded liberals who must confront the many issues and feelings the impending marriage arouses.

Also attending the Draytons’ dinner are Prentice’s parents, John Sr. and Mary (Roy E. Glenn Sr., Beah Richards), who vehemently disapprove of the relationship.

Other supporting characters, like the kindly Monsignor Mike Ryan (Cecil Kellaway), a white male, and the efficient yet unfeeling black housekeeper Tillie (Isabel Sanford), offer differing perspectives on the union.

While the interracial pairing is front and center, the set pieces and artistic design are flawless, offering a looming backdrop of San Francisco.

Frequent scenes occur on the family terrace, lush with bright flowers, images of the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge, and, in one sequence, a rich orange hue amid a dazzling sunset.

To say nothing of the lavish family estate with exquisite art, furniture pieces, and grand rooms all on display during the film.

Director Stanley Kramer deserves praise for these elements and many more, as the film is woven together tremendously well.

The acting is flawless all around, with the top honors going to Hepburn and Poitier.

A poignant scene in which Christina (Hepburn) remembers how happy Joey always was as a child, and how her past happiness pales in comparison to how happy she is now, will bring any viewer to a soggy mess as Hepburn slowly tears up.

Poitier shows his strong range during John’s knockdown, drag-out argument with his father, exclaiming how he owes nothing to his father, and a father’s role is to want the best for his child and to let his child make his own choices.

While Mike thinks nothing but beauty from the union, Tillie is outraged at the nerve of John to mix with white wealth. She shockingly calls him ‘boy’ and scolds him for thinking above his ‘station in life’.

With Tillie and John Sr., we see that bias and racism are not always exclusive to the white community. Black people also see color and prejudice.

This point is the film’s genius, as most of the characters undergo deep dives and learn about themselves, for better or worse.

Some fun facts are that Houghton is the niece of Hepburn, and the film is Spencer Tracy’s final role, having battled illness throughout shooting, but insisting on finishing the film.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) challenges the norms of the times amazingly well, and the brilliance of the acting holds up decades later.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Picture, Best Director-Stanley Kramer, Best Actor-Spencer Tracy, Best Actress-Katharine Hepburn (won), Best Supporting Actor-Cecil Kellaway, Best Supporting Actress-Beah Richards, Best Story and Screenplay-Written Directly for the Screen (won), Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score

2023 Films, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Epic, Independent, Independent Comedy

Beau Is Afraid-2023

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Beau Is Afraid-2023

Director Ari Aster

Starring Joaquin Phoenix

Scott’s Review #1,538

Reviewed June 16, 2026

Grade: A

As a big fan of young director Ari Aster’s horror works like Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019), which blend horror with surreal dark comedy, I was eager to see his latest effort, Beau is Afraid (2023).

Since Aster writes, directs, and co-produces the film, this equates to creative freedom and usually a better product, with fewer opinions in the mix to ruin the director’s vision.

Production company A24 is one of my favorites since they champion independent and edgy projects and showcase Aster and other creative directors’ work.

Aster shifts gears from horror to dark comedy with the wacky and unsettling Beau Is Afraid, a bizarre telling of one man’s paranoid universe.

In a word, it’s a mindfuck, and the less one knows about it, the better. I knew almost nothing about it, which made me appreciate it more and left me gleefully ambiguous, sharing the main character’s anxiety.

Joaquin Phoenix plays Beau Wassermann, a mild-mannered but paranoia-ridden character, as he embarks on a bizarre odyssey to get home to his mother’s house, battling his greatest fears along the way.

Anything and everything bad happens to Beau. As he prepares to head to the airport for his flight home, he carelessly leaves his key and suitcase outside his dilapidated apartment, giving an unseen thief the chance to steal both.

This sets off a series of events that lead him to use automobile transport to reach his mother.

But are events like a neighbor leaving notes imploring Beau to lower his music and a pair of menacing teenage girls real, or only in his mind?

Once Beau makes it to his mother’s ritzy house, events go completely bonkers as a headless corpse lies in a coffin in his mother’s living room and his female childhood friend, Elaine (Parker Posey), resurfaces.

Following the plot is extremely daunting, though flashback scenes of Beau as a newborn and a teenager offer minimal help in explaining his anxiety. But some clues prevail.

What I enjoyed and admired most about this film is its unpredictability and its unhinged plot.

Sometimes it’s okay not to fully understand a film’s story if there is enough going for it to justify the confusion, and in Beau Is Afraid, there is.

The filmmaking alone is admirable.

The film has a unique look, a cross between muted and glossy, that I also noticed in Hereditary.

During one sequence, Beau scrambles across a street to get home before being bludgeoned by a killer slaughtering a woman. So much happens in the scene, even in the background, with people running around and acting crazy all at a very fast pace.

The glamorous Beau’s mother’s set is brilliantly decorated, complete with a spiral wooden staircase and a pond-like exterior water feature running in the background.

These interesting intricacies make the overall package beyond impressive to the keen viewer.

Phoenix, now a legendary actor, is brilliant in the title role. Handsome and dashing yet an iconoclast and cerebral, he’s the perfect choice to star in something so warped.

Unknown if he wore a ‘fat suit’ or gained weight and became ‘middle-aged looking,’ but the actor is astounding as a regular dude with neurosis.

Rumor has it that Phoenix and Aster got along famously, undoubtedly making the film so dynamic.

Special mentions to Patti LuPone and Parker Posey, who give terrific supporting turns as Beau’s mother and Beau’s childhood friend.

Ari Aster is one of the most extraordinary new voices in modern cinema. He rejects traditional stories and plot devices in favor of unique, macabre storytelling.

At nearly three hours, he even breaks the rules regarding what’s considered an appropriate length for his films.

One can perhaps compare him to Quentin Tarantino of the 1990s for offering a fresh perspective on film and infusing his films with surrealism and thought-provoking themes.

Beau Is Afraid (2023) is an example of how exciting modern cinema can be, with an ingenious, visionary offering.

2024 Films, Horror, Vampire

‘Salem’s Lot-2024

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‘Salem’s Lot-2024

Director Gary Dauberman

Starring Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh

Scott’s Review #1,537

Reviewed June 13, 2026

Grade: B-

Another attempt at resurrecting the well-known and scary 1975 Stephen King novel ‘Salem’s Lot results in a mediocre affair.

This is a shame because the novel, as well as Pet Semetary, scared the bejeezus out of me as a nerdy teen craving escapism.

The best ‘revival’ of ‘Salem’s Lot was a wonderful 1979 television miniseries that spanned nearly three hours. It lent credence to delving deeper into the robust and complex characters King created.

For a deep horror extravaganza, this is necessary.

Still, the 2024 offering of ‘Salem’s Lot is a watered-down approach to the original story, which it pairs with repeating glossy elements that were once extremely frightening and imaginative.

There’s little to no character development and a tepid romantic storyline that ultimately goes nowhere.

Overall, Stephen King doesn’t have a whole lot of luck with big-screen adaptations of his works. Carrie (1976) and The Shining (1980) are the two best, in my opinion.

Author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) returns to his childhood home, Jerusalem’s Lot (or Salem’s Lot), in search of inspiration for his next book, only to discover that his hometown is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire.

Gradually, most of the townspeople succumb to vampirism, explained later, because the town has no life anyway.

At the same time, Ben, his burgeoning love interest, Susan (Mackenzie Leigh), Doctor Cody (Alfre Woodard), schoolteacher Mark (Bill Camp), and eleven-year-old Mark Petrie (Jordan Preston Carter) must race against time to stop the madness from overtaking their beloved town.

As with many modern horror films, the first half of ‘Salem’s Lot is better than the second.

Pullman, son of famous actor Bill Pullman, and facially a dead ringer, is compelling in the lead role. An intelligent author, he returns to his hometown for inspiration, also recalling a horrific accident that killed both his parents.

He meets several interesting, on the surface anyway, characters, like the schoolteacher, the sheriff, and Susan, who, despite reading his last novel, doesn’t realize at first that Ben is the author.

Ben and Susan have a potential romance and a cool banter that envelops the audience. But that’s as far as we get with the pairing.

It’s peculiar that director Gary Dauberman keeps the time period in the mid-1970s for the automobiles featured, but little else is reminiscent of fifty years ago.

The characters all look very modern, from the hairstyles to the clothes, especially given the addition of a black female doctor and a prominent black family.

Kudos for the diversity, but it’s highly doubtful this would exist in a small rural town in the 1970s, especially not without a redneck or two around to cause chaos.

A fantastic sequence in the novel and miniseries, when pasty-faced schoolkid Danny (Nicholas Crovetti) is sacrificed, and returns to hover outside his pal Mark’s bedroom window, is neither thrilling nor scary. Instead, Mark casually casts Danny aside and runs to tell on him.

The villains also underwhelm.

Straker (Pilou Asbæk), a strange man from somewhere in Europe who opens an antique store in town and moves into the long-abandoned Marsten House, is scarcely featured and certainly not enough to get to know the character at all.

His vampire master, Kurt Barlow, who plans to create a vampire colony, is featured even less. He waits in a coffin in the basement of the house and snarls once or twice.

Nonetheless, the kills are fun if not unsurprising. Once benevolent characters turn into vampires and attempt to bite others.

The wackiest, probably unintentionally, is watching Susan’s mother bite her and later wield a shotgun to shoot anyone who has not turned.

But we don’t feel sorry for the victims because we never really knew them well enough to begin with. The quiet pacing is something the novel and the miniseries did exceptionally well.

By the conclusion, what started as a film with frightening potential turns into cheesy glowing crosses that sometimes work and sometimes don’t, and the character is reduced to saying a prayer in the hopes that the vampire won’t bite her.

‘Salem’s Lot (2024) is a rather tepid film with little to differentiate it from many other genre films and a weak effort in the many incarnations of King’s excellent book.

2025 Films, Auto Racing, Drama, Sports

F1 The Movie-2025

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F1 The Movie-2025

Director Joseph Kosinski

Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon

Scott’s Review #1,536

Reviewed June 12, 2026

Grade: C

Mysteriously nominated for Best Picture and three technical awards despite being a ‘formulaic’ Hollywood big-budget production, the recognition is the sole reason I decided to see F1 The Movie (2025).

Having heard the film was terrible, I hesitantly settled in to watch a with eleven hours to spare on a flight across the world.

Not a fan of auto racing, nor giving a hoot about FORMULA 1, the film is very similar to recent efforts like Ford v Ferrari (2019) and Rush (2013), both of which are forgettable.

Do we really need at least three major auto racing films in modern times? Apparently, a market still exists for this type of film.

While not downright horrible, and Brad Pitt holds appeal as a laid-back, aging race car driver, the film is too similar to other genre productions to garner much interest or to be remembered for long.

Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) is “the greatest that never was,” a derogatory term for a promising 1990s star whose career nearly ended in a track accident.

He never reached his full potential.

Thirty years later, he makes a living as a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), the owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team on the verge of collapse.

Ruben convinces Sonny to return to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and becoming the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie, intent on making a name for himself.

This has a Rocky (1976) sports setup in which we root for the underdog to win the day.

As likable as Pitt is as the ‘star,’ even he can’t save this film from a myriad of cliches and easy setups.

There is little doubt that Sonny will finally become the  ‘greatest of all time’ (GOAT) before the credits roll, but not before facing animosity, accidents, setbacks, and all the other situations that always occur in a sports film before the hero enjoys the spoils.

Naturally, Sonny and cocky Joshua will become rivals and eventually friends. Laughably, after a fiery accident that nearly kills Joshua, his mother, Bernadette (Sarah Niles), blames Sonny for changing the strategy and causing her son harm.

The beautiful Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), technical director for the team, predictably serves as a love interest of Sonny, despite in one scene insisting she never mixes work with romance, cut to Kate and Sonny passionately falling into bed for sex.

Finally, there are standard subplots of a rival of Ruben’s attempting to steal Sonny away for profit, and Kate scolding Sonny for being a lone wolf and encouraging him to be a team player.

The cliches and predictability are off the charts, which is exactly what I expected from F1 The Movie.

So, I don’t get the Best Picture nomination at all. My hunch is that, with the required 10 Best Picture nominees, F1 The Movie squeaked in because of its technical achievements, earning a solid 10th out of 10.

It didn’t make it in for a great screenplay.

On the other hand, the editing is solid, and the numerous racing scenes are shot with high-quality sound and quick cuts, which pair well.

Director Joseph Kosinski impresses with a single scene that offers a sliver of emotion. During a fiery crash scene, the sound is completely muted as Sonny runs over to the fireball encircling the racecar.

And with a black and Hispanic character in major roles and female characters in a ‘man’s world’ film, there is some diversity to celebrate.

As for the overall assessment for F1 The Movie (2025), I watched it in its entirety for two hours and thirty minutes during my long flight, and it passed the time.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Sound (won), Best Visual Effects

2025 Films, Drama, Historical Drama, Period Drama

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale-2025

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Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale-2025

Director Simon Curtis

Starring Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern

Scott’s Review #1,535

Reviewed June 11, 2026

Grade: B

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) is like comfort television set on a big screen.

The third in a planned film trilogy based on the popular television series that ran from 2010 to 2015, the film is satisfying while remaining safe and warm.

It concludes in the early 1930s, nearly a generation after the series debuted in 1912.

From a historical perspective, it’s compelling to see how world events progressed from the sinking of the Titanic when the series began to the begrudging acceptance of a divorced woman as the head of a household in the 1930s.

Separating an evaluation of the television series itself, and honing in on the three films, The Grande Finale ends at just the right time, feeling ever so stale at this point.

The absence of Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess of Grantham is noticed, as her trademark wit and bitchiness cannot be replaced by any other character.

Let’s hope that creator Julian Fellows doesn’t go down the path that the slasher franchise Friday the 13th did in the 1980s and birth Downton Abbey: A New Beginning.

In this installment, the Crawley family and their staff enter the 1930s with the typical trials, tribulations, scandals, and drama they have overcome.

When Mary (Michelle Dockery) finds herself at the center of a public scandal over her divorce, the family also faces financial trouble, the threat of losing everything, and social disgrace.

The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future, which is at the heart of the finale.

The storylines, though modernized for the times, follow a familiar pattern, which is comforting for audiences. The soothing, methodical pace, lovely musical score, and familiar characters we have come to know and love over the years all return.

Even though there are problems for the Crawleys to tackle, nothing too heavy or startling emerges, maintaining a safe bubble for viewers to nestle in, keeping their security blanket intact.

Of course, lead actors like Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, and Elizabeth McGovern, joined by Paul Giamatti, are given the meaty storylines since they best represent the Crawley family.

Dockery as Mary, frequently known as being uptight, loosens up a bit amid her scandalous divorce, even giving in to desire and having a steamy one-night stand with a handsome stranger.

Meanwhile, Robert and Cora (Bonneville and McGovern) must grapple with the 1929 Wall Street stock market crash and the subsequent Great Depression.

The real-life world events the fictional stories are based on make the events more interesting than if writers had invented them.

A major positive is that nearly every character in the ensemble is given something to do, even if it’s only a crumb or two to chomp on.

For example, Carson (Jim Parsons) copes with retirement, while the cook, Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol), embraces it and hands the reins to the young assistant, Daisy (Sophie McShera).

Popular couple John (Brendan Coyle) and Anna (Joanne Froggatt) Bates, eternally loyal to Robert and Mary, have a touching send-off.

Finally, the same-sex romance between Guy Dexter (Dominic West) and Thomas, a former butler at Downton Abbey (Robert James Collier), is explored as the men slowly become more comfortable admitting their relationship to friends.

Still taboo, the notion shows the progress that has occurred in the world over the decades.

The film ends perfectly, a wonderful tribute seen through Mary’s eyes as she takes over the Crawley estate. She sees those deceased family members she was once close to as she ponders the vast estate and the years gone by.

Violet, Matthew Crawley, and Lady Sybil Crawley all appear in archival cameos, making for a sweet and teary wrap-up.

Amid the comfort factor, the film doesn’t offer much that is new or different from the other installments. The new storylines aren’t particularly dangerous, and it’s clear things will be wrapped up in short order.

As nice as Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2026) is, let’s hope it truly is the finale. There’s something to be said about going out on top before the gas runs out of the tank.

1968 Films, British, British Horror, Circus, Hag Horror, Horror, Thriller

Berserk! -1968

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Berserk! -1968

Director Jim O’Connolly

Starring Joan Crawford

Scott’s Review #1,534

Reviewed May 25, 2026

Grade: B

Joan Crawford, legendary Hollywood screen star, appears in Berserk! (1968), a British horror-thriller vehicle that was one of her last roles.

Trog (1970) was her final film role.

She portrays Monica Rivers, a ringmistress of a traveling circus in the London area. Monica is no-nonsense and man-hungry, known to bed some of the talent as she confidently hunts her prey.

As the co-owner of the circus, Monica is always preoccupied with filling seats and making money, a bottom-line gal.

Following the suspicious ‘accidental’ death of a tightrope walker, Rivers is pleased to see her profits increase because of the drama. She soon hires handsome Frank Hawkins (Ty Hardin) to replace him.

But when performers start to meet gruesome deaths, it becomes apparent that a killer is on the loose. Monica must juggle pesky detectives lurking around with accusations that she may be the killer.

While I enjoyed the film, which serves as a compelling whodunit first and foremost, not to mention Crawford’s appeal, it is only moderately above mediocre.

As expected, Crawford leads the charge and gives the project her best effort. Deliciously callous and self-serving, the role of Monica is one Crawford can sink her teeth into as unsympathetic as she is.

Her many outfits are glamorous, especially given the circus setting, and her cigarette smoking, nearly a trademark, makes her look powerful.

An aging star, her romantic pairing with Hardin, young and muscular, is borderline silly since she could easily be his grandmother. Weirdly, in a couple of scenes with him, Crawford looks much older and more ragged than in other scenes, while Hardin is bare-chested and buff.

There is little chemistry between the two.

The whodunit works well, as a myriad of suspects have both the cause and the motivation for the killings.

Monica, Frank, performer Matilda (Diana Dors), and others are suspects.

A colorful yet dark circus setting is wonderful in any horror film. The peculiar yet stereotypical characters, such as the strongman, the bearded lady, and others, are incorporated, as are scenes of characters following one another or lurking in the shadows.

The mostly nighttime scenes work well.

The final reveal of the killer is startling and surprising, which greatly improves the film. There is satisfaction when a viewer is genuinely surprised by a whodunit rather than having guessed the killer from the start.

However, the killer’s motivations are lackluster and hard to believe. The sequence is also very rushed and wrapped within five minutes of screentime.

Rather than systematically kill victims off one by one, the killer might have had a sit-down conversation over tea to flesh out the issues that are the motivation for the murders.

Another perplexity is Crawford’s lack of a British accent. Having grown up in England and with the circus in her family for 50 years, Monica wouldn’t be American.

While a real circus was used for the myriad scenes involving elephants, dog performers, and others, director Jim O’Connell overdoes it to the detriment of the action.

The scenes are cute, but they slow down the plot.

Berserk! (1968) is a watchable effort largely due to Crawford’s stunning screen presence and a solid whodunit. It is hardly on her greatest-hits film reel, but it is not disastrous either.

2026 Films, Comedy, Drama

The Devil Wears Prada 2-2026

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The Devil Wears Prada 2-2026

Director David Frankel

Starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep

Scott’s Review #1,533

Reviewed May 11, 2026

Grade: B+

Twenty years after the box-office smash The Devil Wears Prada (2006), an entertaining and satisfying follow-up, The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026), will please fans of the original and even garner a fresh audience.

The experience is fun and largely what one would expect from a sequel. Besides a light plot twist or two, there is nothing too surprising about the film. One could almost accuse it of being a money grab or a nostalgic throwback, and they’d be right in a way.

But with the return of the original cast, and with director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna at the helm, the formula works well, and consistency and truth to the characters are maintained.

And film audiences can rest easy with legendary icon Meryl Streep leading the pack of quality actors.

Doubtful if Streep would accept a role merely for a paycheck and without a good script at hand. This lends to security for cinema fans looking for more than a mediocre sequel. As I settled into my seat, I felt confident I would enjoy the film.

It’s delightful to see Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci back at the helm.

Miranda (Streep), Andy (Hathaway), Emily (Blunt), and Nigel (Tucci) return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine.

Stalwarts Miranda and Nigel remain at the company, while former assistants Andy and Emily, now in their 40s, have branched out into other industries (Andy) or an advertising company (Emily).

When Andy loses her job, she is offered a role with Runway, uniting with the others, much to the bitchy Miranda’s chagrin. The women playfully spar while an obvious respect is showcased.

Mixed with the humor is a dramatic storyline involving corporate takeovers, backstabbing, a struggle for control, and an interesting generational age angle.

Hathaway and Streep, in particular, have lost none of their original chemistry despite Andy now being a grown woman and an equal and no longer a minion to be chewed up and spit out.

The most fun is the knowledge that the women don’t really hate each other but share mutual admiration. They have their unique way of expressing that.

Laugh-out-loud moments occur mostly at Miranda’s expense as the rigid superstar is forced to endure an international flight in crowded coach seating and eating lunch in the building’s cafeteria, where she has never set foot.

Even though all the principal actors are wonderful, Streep is unsurprisingly the best part. The actor has a gift for flawlessly making any scene she is in something special.

As Miranda, she uses her eyes to her advantage, meshing wickedness, humor, and a burgeoning sentimentality. She’s a character audiences have previously loved to hate and now love to love.

Thankfully, since the setting is the fashion world, New York City is prominently featured and oozes sophistication, style, and a coolness. Many scenes of the characters walking down the crowded streets occur, enhancing a fresh, metropolitan Big Apple.

Impressively, the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, Hudson Yards, and the former McGraw-Hill building are used.

Gorgeous locales in Milan, Italy, the fashion capital of the world, are featured at a swanky gala and as the film’s high point. da Vinci’s The Last Supper, The Palazzo Parigi & Grand Spa Milano, and Lake Como are featured, which provides a sizzling, sophisticated feeling.

We even get to see Lady Gaga perform!

The film has laughs, heart, and a timely message about technology, journalism, and the treatment of people as aging, disposable objects rather than human beings.

In a 2026 world filled with corruption, lies, and coldness, the film gives a much-needed slice of escapism and an uplifting message of unity.

A box office hit, it also reaffirms the importance of audience connection, and I happily enjoyed the film in a full theatre.

The consensus about The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) is that while not as good as the original, it’s a quality slice of popcorn nostalgia with a terrific message.

I agree 100% with this sentiment.

2025 Films, Horror, Independent, Independent Horror, Slasher

Dolly-2025

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Dolly-2025

Director Rod Blackhurst

Starring Max the Impaler, Fabianne Therese, Seann William Scott

Scott’s Review #1,532

Reviewed May 3, 2026

Grade: B+

Dolly (2025) is a disturbing yet effective slasher film patterned after the 1974 horror masterpiece The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. With grainy filmmaking, a remote, woodsy locale, and hints of inbred country folk living a secret, macabre existence, the parallels are clear.

Following the film’s viewing, it’s almost a necessity that a prequel is in the works, as many questions remain, especially among the family.

While following a standard slasher film in terms of a masked, unknown assailant, jump out of your seat scares, and characters making inane decisions, Dolly has a uniqueness all its own.

Since Dolly is an independent horror film, the low-budget nature works in its favor.

The opening sequence features a hulking woman wearing a porcelain doll mask, clutching a decapitated body. In her bedroom, she sobs with grief and appears emotionally wounded as she utters wounded, animalistic sounds.

The room is infested with buzzing flies, creating a hot summer atmosphere.

The plot then follows Macy (Fabianne Therese) and Chase (Seann William Scott), a happy couple on their way to a remote mountain-top getaway where Chase nervously intends to propose marriage.

A silly and superfluous add-on about Chase having a young daughter from a previous relationship and Macy’s uncertainty about being a stepmother, since her own mother was a shitty parent, is discussed via FaceTime with her sister.

This has nothing to do with the main story.

Chase and Macy briefly hike and enjoy the picturesque views before noticing an array of doll figures strewn across the forest and an eerie music box lullaby barely within earshot.

Naturally, since Dolly is a horror film, the couple separates as Chase goes to figure out what the mystery is all about, leaving Macy alone and both of them vulnerable.

Why they don’t go together is beyond me.

Eventually, Macy is abducted by the hulking mask-clad woman and dragged to a dilapidated house in the woods. She fights for survival after she realizes the woman intends to raise her as her infantile child.

Dolly is never a boring experience; it is divided into six chapters aptly named Mother, Father, Daughter, and so on. While the film is ambiguous, the chapters at least help the viewer ascertain that something weird is going on in the house, involving a family.

But is the hulking woman, assumed to be named ‘Dolly’, a victim herself? Why does she put Macy in a baby dress and give her a pacifier? Did she kill the decapitated body or did someone else?

Dolly is certainly nuts, but why is she nuts?

Eventually, another character is introduced who provides a shred of clarity but also raises even more questions. Why is the character bound and tied, and can they be trusted?

To offset the gruesome physical suffering and emotional trauma the characters endure, the audience can have some good, clean, slasher fun. Macy, in particular, makes one dumb decision after another, which may make the viewer scream out to the screen in comical frustration.

Seemingly countless times, Macy foregoes escape to either pause and ponder the situation, wasting precious time, or merely wounds her assailant instead of decapitating them to ensure she is safe.

There are also clichés like a character wearing headphones and blasting music, not hearing a victim’s pleas for help, a barricaded door, tripping and falling in the forest, curiously yelling out ‘hello?’, and various other devices to keep the character trapped and in peril.

It also makes Dolly seem predictable, especially as the conclusion draws near.

I wouldn’t say I was glad Dolly ended when it did, but it felt like it went as far as it could with what might be ‘Act 1’ of a multiple-film experience.

Dolly (2025) has an excellent horror vibe, great elements, and decent acting, but provides few answers to a myriad of questions.

While riddled with clichés from many past horror films, the setup is there, and the film successfully intrigues its audience enough, prompting a follow-up.

1972 Films, Horror

You’ll Like My Mother-1972

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You’ll Like My Mother-1972

Director Lamont Johnson

Starring Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy

Scott’s Review #1,531

Reviewed April 29, 2026

Grade: A-

A largely forgotten 1972 horror film, You’ll Like My Mother, is a diamond in the rough.

It’s a perfect offering for a frigid wintry night since several days’ worth of activity occur amid a blustery Minnesota blizzard.

Additionally, a foreboding remote mansion with warm fireplaces, howling wind, and passageways is where most of the action takes place.

Is there any better atmosphere for a horror film?

Influenced by films like Psycho (1960), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), and even What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) and undoubtedly others, its themes are ‘mommy horror’ and being incapacitated, gaslit, and trapped in an isolated locale.

When her husband, Matthew, is killed in Vietnam, newlywed Francesca Kinsolving (Patty Duke) finds herself pregnant and alone. She travels from sunny Los Angeles to visit her in-laws in snowy Minnesota, believing, based on her late husband’s encouragement, that she’ll be welcomed with open arms.

She is mortified at what she actually finds when she arrives.

Mrs. Kinsolving (Rosemary Murphy) is an uncaring woman who refuses to accept Francesca as her daughter-in-law. Upon an introduction, she casually mentions having just drowned some kittens as a result of the family cat mating with an alleycat.

Matthew’s mentally disabled sister, Kathleen (Sian Barbara Allen), whom he never thought to mention, is kind, and Francesca forms an immediate connection with her.

Much to her displeasure, Francesca sticks around because of the blizzard, and events take a peculiar turn with the discovery of a family Bible, a mysterious resident of the mansion, and questions about the family fortune.

Patty Duke, best known for Valley of the Dolls in 1967, reportedly sought more mature roles and delivered a fantastic lead performance in You’ll Like My Mother.

The best part about Francesca is that she is a strong character and matches wits with Mrs. Kinsolving. When she is given a sleeping pill in her hot cocoa, causing her to sleep for fifteen hours, she scolds the mother and demands the hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast that she missed.

She also doesn’t mince words about her disappointment in Mrs. Kinsolving’s demeanor, admitting she expected someone a bit nicer and stating she doubts they’ll see each other again.

I wanted more scenes between the two and more bitchy sparring as the ladies play cat and mouse, dangling leverage in front of each other.

Rosemary Murphy is a standout as Mrs. Kinsolving, lending the character a cold, abrupt quality. As the onion is peeled and uncertainty about her identity is unleashed, she boldly keeps her cool.

The pacing of the film is excellent, and events never lag. At merely one hour and thirty-two minutes, the director Lamont Johnson makes the most of it, immediately showing Francesca on a bus towards snow country.

The rest is contained in and around the vast mansion and its grounds. While not haunted, the estate is a major player with long hallways, staircases, cabinets, and the attic and garage being important components.

A few plot holes are evident, such as no one realizing a newborn baby is being kept in the attic, and horror standards like Francesca’s near escapes being thwarted, but the film’s tension never wanes.

The final act is juicy as a wild chase and game of hide and seek around the mansion’s grounds ensues, which results in a shocking death. The audience will bite their nails in hopes that Francesca and the baby escape with their lives.

There is no gore, making the film more intellectual and haunting than in-your-face violence would be. Often, the danger is unseen, and shadows and noises are common.

A chilling thrill ride makes You’ll Like My Mother (1972) a delicious effort, a perfect companion for a dark, stormy night.

1997 Films, Animated, Fantasy, Kids, Musical

Anastasia-1997

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Anastasia-1997

Director Don Bluth, Gary Goldman

Voices Meg Ryan, John Cusack

Scott’s Review #1,530

Reviewed April 27, 2026

Grade: B

Anastasia (1997) is an animated film that explores emperors, duchesses, and the Romanov royal family of Russia, offering an important early-twentieth-century history lesson.

Surprisingly, not a Disney film, it’s the first release from Fox Animation Studios, resulting in an overall decent effort. It has potency but lacks the magic of other darling animated creations of the past.

An evil and vengeful wizard named Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) casts a curse on the royal family as a dazzling ball commences in 1916, and young Anastasia disappears as their palace is overrun by killers, leaving most of the family dead.

She and her grandmother, whom she eventually is separated from when the Dowager Empress Marie (Angela Lansbury) flees on a train, are saved by a mysterious servant boy who whisks them to a secret room.

Years later, the Grand Duchess offers a reward for Anastasia’s return, but finally gives up amid a legion of imitators and attempted schemers, leaving her flustered and hopeless.

Two Russians, Dimitri (John Cusack) and Vlad (Kelsey Grammer), initially plan to pawn off a phony discovered through auditions, but are shocked to learn that an orphan girl named Anya (Meg Ryan) is the real Anastasia.

Dimitri, who has fallen in love with Anya, is torn between his feelings and a potentially lucrative payday.

The film’s wintry backdrop is visually exquisite, with snow, lights, and the glitz and glamour associated with Paris, setting the story in Saint Petersburg and launching the action amid fabulous costumes and palace trimmings at the ball.

A dangerous train ride from Saint Petersburg to the east, winding up in Paris, is also a high point of the film.

The central characters, Anya, Dimitri, and Vlad, escape terrible fates that the evil Rasputin is plotting against them. They slink from first class to the luggage car to finally leap from the train itself in a daring escape.

They then stowaway on a ship bound for Paris.

The trio’s adventures make the film enjoyable and edge-of-your-seat at times.

Another highlight is a compelling sequence in which Rasputin gets Anya to sleepwalk to the edge of the ship, attempting to make her jump to her death. She sees her dead siblings in a sunny pool of warmth as they invite her to dive in and join them.

The glowing, hallucinogenic interplay of summer sun and winter-driving rain aboard the ship is both majestic and frightening. It also shows the connection between her and her siblings, as well as feelings of loss.

I wasn’t entralled with the characters of Rasputin or the hapless Bartok (Hank Azaria), a minuscule albino bat sidekick, who eventually ‘turns good’.

Rasputin, stuck in a mysterious limbo until he kills off the remaining Romanov (Anya), is portrayed as cartoonish and over-the-top. His threats become redundant, as does his one-note nature.

The characters’ situation is complicated by a weird situation in which, because of foiled attempts on the lives of Dimitri, Vlad, and Anya, they are forced to return to the ‘real world’ and kill Anya there.

It makes little sense, feels juvenile, and the characters were wisely omitted from the stage version.

The musical numbers are charming, but they do not knock it out of the park. Tepidly nominated for an Oscar nomination, “Journey to the Past” is okay, but nothing memorable either.

What works best is the romance between Anya and Dimitri, who have tremendous chemistry. Since he is immediately smitten with her, it is interesting to see how the film handles the eventual revelation of his villainy and his subsequent redemption.

Since it’s clear the film will have a ‘happily ever after’ ending, the anticipation of a final showdown reduces some of the predictability.

The reunion between Anya and her grandmother is touching and sentimental without being too mushy. Even in an animated film, powerful performances can be achieved, and the characters can touch their audience as much as a live-action film.

An entertaining film with heart and a intellectually stimulating backdrop, it has enough to recommend to children and adults alike. I could have done with a better villain or perhaps no villain at all, which makes Anastasia (1997) feel more juvenile and less sophisticated than it should have been.

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Musical or Comedy Score, Best Original Song-“Journey to the Past”

 

1956 Films, Drama, Gothic, Melodrama

Written on the Wind-1956

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Written on the Wind-1956

Director Douglas Sirk

Starring Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack

Scott’s Review #1,529

Reviewed April 20, 2026

Grade: A-

The terms ‘melodrama’ and ‘soap opera’ unfortunately come with a negative connotation, conjuring up disparaging adjectives like sappy or overwrought. Mix in poor acting, and you’ve got yourself a bad film.

But director Douglas Sirk, well known in the 1950s for his Hollywood melodramas like All That Heaven Allows (1955), Imitation of Life (1959), and Written on the Wind (1956), crafts beautiful visual effects amid powerful performances and compelling storylines.

Casting A-list movie stars only adds to the credibility.

Written on the Wind stars Rock Hudson and Lauren Bacall as complicated characters on the cusp of a relationship, but hindered by other selfish characters who are determined to pursue their own romantic desires.

Hudson starred in an impressive six Douglas Sirk films while Bacall’s career was beginning to wane, leading her to accept the role.

The action makes stops in New York City and Miami before settling in oil-rich Texas, where a central dysfunctional family dynasty led by Jasper Hadley (Robert Keith) is the main focus.

Hadley’s alcoholic son, Kyle (Robert Stack), is in love with Lucy (Bacall), whom he woos and marries. At the same time, Kyle’s scheming, self-destructive sister, Marylee (Dorothy Malone), has her sights set on Kyle’s childhood best friend, the dashing Mitch (Hudson), who longs for romance with Lucy.

The foursome banter, lust after, and become involved in dramatic situations, which lead to secrets and eventually death. Subjects like alcoholism, unrequited love, miscarriage, murder, and a court trial are explored.

While the situations may sound like nothing more than a sudsy afternoon daytime drama, the acting and rich writing more than raise the film above mediocrity.

The juicy sequences alone will entice the rabid viewer.

The exceptional chemistry between Hudson and Bacall is a winning formula, and viewers easily root for them to be together, and they immediately seem destined to be. Their scenes smolder with passion and determination, but both characters are too righteous and benevolent to let anything happen.

After all, Lucy is married to Kyle, and learns she is pregnant, though she remains terribly unfulfilled.

It’s easy to like Mitch and Lucy, especially when they’re contrasted with unsympathetic characters like Kyle and Marylee. Rich and spoiled, Kyle is a lustful playboy, a womanizer, and terribly insecure and jealous.

Marylee is a boozy nymphomaniac, callous and never satisfied.

Kyle and Marylee are not explored as much as they might have been with a longer running time, so they have hints of being one-dimensional. But both actors’ powerful performances leave audiences mesmerized by their characters.

Marylee nearly steals the show with her fiery bedroom negligee dance to a hi-fi blaring “Temptation,” while another character dies tragically a floor below.

You might say we ‘love to hate’ both characters.

Since Sirk and Hudson were both gay, though not publicly so at the time (1956), keen viewers can notice hidden clues about the situations Hudson might have been facing in real life.

We can see how Hudson would have had attractive women like Marylee fawning over him and practically begging him to bed them. Unable to be receptive to their advances, instead, he would feel guilty and lonely.

Besides wonderful writing, Sirk’s direction is inspiring. The opening sequence features a clever ‘the beginning is the ending ‘ approach that many filmmakers borrowed over the years in their cinematic works.

The audience immediately sees Kyle stagger outside the palatial mansion, brandishing a gun and finally collapsing. While the wind whistles, a desk calendar is shown with the pages quickly turning to eighteen months prior when the story really begins.

This opening scene will be recreated at the end of the film, making for instant attention.

Other spicy add-ons, like fine furniture throughout the estate, a grand dinner beginning with a fruit-cocktail appetizer, more than a few sophisticated martinis served, and modern sports cars being driven, lend a robust flair of wealth and glamour to the production.

A sequence was even modeled after a flashy Manhattan nightclub, the 21 Club.

For a trip into a world of wealthy yet tortured characters, Written on the Wind (1956) is top-notch. Some cliches can be forgiven, as melodrama was hardly done any better than this film.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Supporting Actor-Robert Stack, Best Supporting Actress-Dorothy Malone (won), Best Song-‘Written on the Wind.’

Golden Globe Nominations: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture-Dorothy Malone

1983 Films, Horror, Slasher

Curtains-1983

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Curtains-1983

Director Richard Ciupka, Peter R. Simpson

Starring John Vernon, Samantha Eggar, Linda Thorson

Scott’s Review 1,528

Reviewed April 13, 2026

Grade: B-

Curtains (1983) is a mid-1980s horror film that sits somewhere between an intended arthouse gem akin to Dario Argento’s Suspiria (1977) and a standard slasher flick, ala Friday the 13th (1980), riddled with clichés.

To be blunt, most of the time it doesn’t know what it wants to be, which is unsurprising given the behind-the-scenes drama enveloping the project.

The plot doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and is a mess from the opening scene until the two sets of credits roll. Weakly billed as Act I and Act II, the dual set of credits is mystifying without knowing the backstage turmoil.

It’s never a good sign when a director ultimately removes his name from the project, but that’s what happened.

Producer Peter R. Simpson butted heads with director Richard Ciupka, so that, in the end, he was frustratedly forced to have his name removed from the film entirely and was reduced to being listed under a pseudonym.

I doubt the gentlemen ever exchanged Christmas cards.

Most of the cast doubted the film would ever see the light of day until, lo and behold, it was released two years after being made.

The streaming quality via Prime is horrendous, nearly making Curtains unwatchable and adding to an already chaotic trainwreck.

Nonetheless, the brief ninety-minute experience contains some clever moments and a compelling whodunit-style murder mystery amid a lonely mansion. These, right off the bat, are horror standards sure to get some credibility.

The hideously creepy ‘ugly’ mask that the killer dons is frightening, as is a strange doll that makes recurring appearances. See above and add to more horror must-haves.

In a murky opening sequence, a method actress, Samantha Sherwood (Samantha Eggar), has herself committed to an asylum to study the inmates, only to be double-crossed by her husband, Jonathan Stryker (John Vernon), who intends to keep her locked up.

She escapes to attend his casting session for six starlets whom he has invited to his prestigious and secluded mansion for a weekend retreat/audition for his new movie. Samantha’s motive is revenge and a desperate desire to play the film’s mysterious, mentally unstable star, Audra.

The ambitious female performers the unknown killer targets run the gamut from serious actress to sex kitten to stand-up comic. They are systematically killed one by one, naturally.

A clever and recurring theme is that of dreams. One victim, driving on a deserted highway en route to the mansion, stops to investigate a doll sitting in the middle of the street. A maniac then runs her down before waking up safely in her bed.

This ambiguous sequence and a riveting ice skating sequence on a frozen pond are the film’s best.

Curtains also does a good job at providing frights, as when one victim stages a kinky home intruder sequence with her boyfriend. Assumed to be there to kill her, instead, they simulate a rape before cracking up into hysterics.

The twist at the end of the film is also well done. Perhaps an early influencer to Scream (1996), there are not one but two killers in play, but are they in cahoots or kill independently?

The negatives run from a wacky cat-and-mouse scene amid mannequins, to someone placing a severed head in a toilet that is removed a minute later with no leftover blood and gore.

Neither the doll nor the mask has anything to do with the story other than creepy effects to throw in. And a hunky male hot tub soaker is introduced, then disappears for no reason.

The acting, even by heavyweights like Vernon and Eggar, is surprisingly ineffectual, saved slightly by Lynne Griffin (Black Christmas, 1974).

Despite being a cluttered, disarrayed film, Curtains (1983) does have elements that work. There are more questions than answers left to ponder, but the win, of note, is that the viewer will keep thinking about the film.

1981 Films, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Satire

Polyester-1981

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Polyester-1981

Director John Waters

Starring Divine, Tab Hunter, Edith Massey

Scott’s Review #1,527

Reviewed April 6, 2026

Grade: A-

Polyester (1981) is the film that brought raunchy director John Waters to the mainstream, some well-deserved respectability, and what better timing than the 1980s, a time of conservatism.

To many, the film is vile, outlandish, raunchy, and numerous other adjectives, steering many viewers away from even seeing it. But compared to his earlier works of filth, such as Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974), Polyester is quite tame and accessible.

In fact, the film is one of New Line Cinema’s earliest releases.

I see Polyester as a bridge between his early 1970s works and the sentimentality of his later works.

Waters’ stalwarts like Divine, Edith Massey, Mink Stole, and others return to the fold to wreak havoc on virgin film goers who may not be familiar with his dark comic situations.

An attention-grabbing gimmick called Odorama, in which moviegoers can smell what they are viewing on-screen using special scratch-and-sniff cards, is a unique add-on to the film.

Scents like roses, pizza, and farts are a few examples.

In the story, a frustrated middle-class housewife, Francine Fishpaw (Divine), tries to maintain her sanity while managing her dysfunctional household. Her husband, Elmer (David Samson), the owner of a controversial adult theater, is sleeping with his secretary, Sandra (Mink Stole).

Meanwhile, her delinquent teen son, Dexter (Ken King), and pregnant teen daughter, Lulu (Mary Garlington), have problems of their own.

But when Francine meets handsome and wealthy Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), the owner of a theater specializing in art films, her life takes a positive turn.

The biggest change from Waters’ previous works, which were always set in his hometown of Baltimore, is that the setting is a more upscale suburban neighborhood rather than the rank slums of downtown.

The Fishpaws reside in a powder blue house with a paved driveway and shutters. While not a mansion, it’s respectable, and they forge a decent lifestyle. Francine dreams away the days while dutifully cooking and cleaning for her husband and fixing his evening cocktail, while enduring jokes about her weight.

The story is told from Francine’s perspective, and she is joined by her best friend and former maid, Cuddles (Massey), who is now wealthy after an enormous sum of money was left to her by a former client.

The ladies chat over fattening cake, discussing Francine’s numerous problems and her scheme to catch her philandering husband in the act of cheating.

Francine’s pale blue phone rings constantly with one nuisance after another.

The film is a satire of suburban life in the early 1980s, involving topics such as divorce, abortion, adultery, alcoholism, racial stereotypes, foot fetishism, and the religious right.

Naturally, in wacky form.

My favorite sequence comes when a religious right group prances around Francine’s house protesting Elmer’s pornographic theatre. When one woman smacks Francine, she proudly proclaims, ‘That’s from Jesus.

Later, when on a shopping trip to try on dresses with Cuddles, a hungover Francine pukes in her handbag to the horror of a stuffy saleswoman.

It makes a mockery of religion, particularly Catholicism, as when wicked nuns enter the story in relation to a pregnant Lu-Lu. Shown as ridiculous, they are able to ‘reform’ Lu-Lu into the straight and narrow.

Polyester is filled with terrific moments tamer than Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, but nonetheless laugh-out-loud and raucous.

For those curious about a John Waters film, left of center from the normal yet important Hairspray (1988), but still nicely subversive, Polyester (1981) is a great choice.

1965 Films, Crime Thriller, Film noir, Thriller

Who Killed Teddy Bear?-1965

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Who Killed Teddy Bear? -1965

Director Joseph Cates

Starring Sal Mineo, Juliet Prowse, Elaine Stritch

Scott’s Review #1,526

Reviewed April 5, 2026

Grade: A-

Enshrouded with groovy, almost psychedelic camera shots and black-and-white filming, Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) has tremendous style and cinematic creativity.

The film also shows the seedy nature of 1960s New York City, a time when crime increased, and the once culturally and artistically safe haven was suddenly shrouded in filth and danger.

This sets the stage for a film about stalking, menacing, and murder.

Frequent exterior shots of Manhattan, including 42nd Street, Central Park, and Times Square, make it feel relevant and alive. I’m glad these were incorporated over solely studio sets.

Additionally, taboo subjects like lesbianism, pornography, and incest are explored, enhancing a stark direction in cinema from the wholesome 1950s to the edgy 1960s, to the intensity of the 1970s, when the envelope in filmmaking was gloriously pushed and pushed.

Combined with the experimental visuals, the film is a measured success.

The overall story, though, disappoints due to ambiguous motivations and an unsatisfying conclusion.  Right off the bat, the cover art essentially gives away the film’s predator, which the film sets up as a whodunit of sorts.

Nonetheless, thanks to its daring, I rank Who Killed Teddy Bear? as a compelling, impressive effort despite some reservations about the writing.

The film follows Norah Dain (Juliet Prowse), a nightclub disc jockey and aspiring actress living alone in a sublet apartment in Manhattan. Norah begins to receive a series of obscene phone calls from someone who seems to be watching her every day.

She also finds a decapitated teddy bear in her apartment.

Suspects like police detective, Dave Madden (Jan Murray), whose own wife was raped and murdered, and takes a personal interest in Norah and her case, and a waiter at the nightclub, Lawrence Sherman (Sal Mineo),  who lives with and cares for his nineteen-year-old sister Edie (Margot Bennnett), who has a brain injury and has the mind of a child, are introduced.

Of course, we know from the very first scene that the stalker is a man, but we don’t know his motivations or why he targets Norah in particular.

Does he have a mental illness, merely obsessed with a pretty girl, or are his reasons more personal? What does the teddy bear have to do with anything?

In an opening scene, and what could have been influenced by Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), a young girl falls down the stairs, clutching a teddy bear that she ultimately drops.

Is the stalker out for revenge for a past wrongdoing, and what does Norah have to do with that? How does Marian Freeman (Elaine Stritch), the older, experienced manager of the nightclub who takes a personal interest in Norah, fit into the puzzle?

Mineo gives an impressive performance right alongside Prowse, and his character is the most interesting to dissect once the film concludes. Nearly rivaling his performance in Rebel Without a Cause (1955), his character is flawed, ruined, and emotionally scarred, and we yearn to know more about him.

Sadly, there is more left to learn.

Prowse deserves praise for carrying the film and exuding cautious rebellion and a thirst for life. Norah refuses to cower in her apartment; instead, she lives her life, yearning for freedom in the big city, and Prowse captures this wonderfully.

Aspects of Peeping Tom (1960) and Psycho (1960) regarding voyeurism and ‘mommy issues’ can be seen in Who Killed Teddy Bear? and in the yet-to-come Black Christmas (1974), which may have been influenced by the film.

I can’t find much about director Joseph Cates, but he has a masterful cutting-edge technique.

Considering the multitude of taboos and perversions the film explores, that almost no films were doing is to be celebrated. Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) is a messy, sometimes uneven film, but rocks the boat in all the best ways.

1975 Films, Drama, Easter, Made for Television, Television Specials

The Easter Promise-1975

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The Easter Promise-1975

Director Paul Bogart

Starring Jason Robards, Jean Simmons, Lisa Lucas

Scott’s Review #1,525

Reviewed April 3, 2026

Grade: A

The Easter Promise (1975) is a television movie that is surprisingly powerful and emotional. The umbrella title ‘family classics’ was misleading to me, as I begrudgingly watched what I thought would be an overly sentimental and wholesome affair.

That is not the case at all, as The Easter Promise is laden with dark and strong themes of loneliness and alcoholism mixed with feminism and truth to oneself.

A major win and another surprise is the use of videotape rather than film. This makes the story feel like a stage play or a very good daytime television drama layered with humanity and identification.

This worked in the same successful way for the well-known PBS series Upstairs, Downstairs series, and ups the storytelling and investment in the characters.

Finally, a hint of class distinction and career success versus failure is explored. Characters struggle to decide whether to reach for the stars or be complacent and content with the daily drudgery of ordinary life.

The story is that one day, the townspeople of a small Nebraska town eagerly anticipate the return of a former resident and now famous, glamorous Broadway actress, Constance Payne (Jean Simmons). Constance has returned to town to sell her recently deceased father’s house and quickly return to the Big Apple.

Events are told from the perspective of pre-teen Addie Mills (Lisa Lucas), an aspiring artist who cannot wait to leave the folksy and dull Midwest for the lights of New York City the moment she is old enough to.

She intends to forge a connection with Constance, whom she admires for reaching heights of career success.

But when Addie and her girlfriends bombard Constance with requests for acting lessons and an appearance at a local fashion show, they begin to see a dark side of show business.

Drama also surrounds Addie’s father, Jamie (Jason Robards), a high school classmate of Constance’s, who finds her lifestyle flashy and ridiculous. He prefers the small-town mindset and folksy way of thinking, which clashes with Constance and Addie’s beliefs.

Jamie’s mother, Grandmother Mills, provides a kindly, non-judgmental presence that counters Jamie and is wonderfully portrayed by Mildred Natwick.

The character reminds me of Helen Potts, the sweet-natured older woman from Picnic (1955) who brings a sense of pride and good-naturedness to the image of the Midwest.

Serving up a freshly baked pie or muffins elicits a friendly, welcoming vibe.

Despite the heaviness of the alcohol scenes staged dramatically, the best scenes are the quiet ones over a simple meal. When Addie impulsively invites Constance to dinner at her family home, much to Jamie’s dislike, career and mindset are on the agenda.

Constance and Addie calmly question why people are expected to stay passive and unhappy in an isolated place rather than embrace the hustle and bustle of New York City or the gypsy life of a creative soul.

Culturally, Constance expects a cocktail hour before the meal, whereas the Mills family does not even have wine on hand and serves dinner immediately.

This shows the difference between a good Christian family and the edginess of more creative types and perhaps non-believers.

The scenes involving alcoholism don’t exactly treat the topic as an addiction, or any other message deeper than someone who drinks has a myriad of problems.

But the acting between Lucas and Simmons is top-notch during these scenes.

I was impressed with the scene where Constance teaches the girls about acting and techniques surrounding improvisation and being in the moment of a scene. As a former brief theater major, I found the tips rang true and served as a reminder of my own drama teacher.

A clever, artistic addition is the inclusion of drawings of the characters prior to particular sequences. The drawings come to life as real people, and the scene begins.

The Easter Promise (1975) is a wonderful early-spring made-for-television gem that can be watched year after year.

2025 Films, Animated, Best Animated Feature Oscar Winners, Fantasy, Musical

KPop Demon Hunters-2025

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KPop Demon Hunters-2025

Director Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans

Voices Arden Cho, May Hong, Ji-young Yoo

Scott’s Review #1,524

Reviewed March 12, 2026

Grade: B+

KPop Demon Hunters (2025) has become an international hit sensation and a phenomenal crowd pleaser, winning several year-end awards in the process.

This is unsurprising, since the film is a beautifully animated/anime extravaganza, oozing with infectious energy and vibrant colors.

The film contains poignant messages of girl power, self-acceptance, and humanity that make it perfect family entertainment with a terrific soundtrack to boot.

Juicy songs like ‘Takedown’, especially ‘Golden’ and ‘Soda Pop’, are instantly memorable and hummable, celebrating universal pop boy-and-girl band sensations that kids and parents alike can appreciate.

It also incorporates a storyline about South Korean culture and ancient lore, which provides a rich international flavor.

It’s not high art nor groundbreaking cinema, but rather pure bubble gum: fun, sweet, and joyful, and it sticks with you all throughout the running time.

For this type of film, that is acceptable, and the main reason to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Between gigs as a stadium-headlining, social-media-frenzied pop sensation, the members of the girl band Huntrix use their secret identities as demon hunters to protect their fans. A constant supernatural threat hovers, posed by demons named Honmoon who roam the streets.

It’s unclear if Honmoon are spirits or if the fans can actually see them.

Each of the girls, Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo), has a distinct personality, but Rumi is the leader of the pack with the strongest singing voice.

When a dark secret about one of the girls is revealed, it threatens to break up the group just as a rival boy band, the Saja Boys, of demons in disguise, emerges on the scene.

In teen fashion and a clear attempt to market the film to a young demographic, romance blossoms between Rumi and Jinu (Ahn Hyo-seop), the pretty leader of the Saja Boys.

Of course, they begin as rivals but form a strong alliance later in the film.

The lavish colors, many pinks, purples, and blues, make the look enticing and cotton candy-like, almost like being immersed in a sugary video game version of Candy Land with songs.

The plentiful concert sequences also score big, as the anthemic numbers are sometimes repeated. This reinforces the connection between the bands and the fans, and also the film and the fans.

A main message is one of connectivity. Community, friendship, and having each other’s backs are the main themes and an inspiration for the viewer to come together as one, as evidenced by the concert scenes.

Despite KPop Demon Hunters not being defined as an LGBTQ+ film nor having any specific LGBTQ+ characters, it still resonates on a deep level.

Rumi’s story parallels the experience of coming out, particularly regarding parental and societal expectations. The continuous lyrics focused on the struggle to hide your true self and finally be yourself are highly inspiring.

So that, while an entertaining crowd pleaser, there is more than meets the eye if one is to dig a little deeper.

Victory is achieved by KPop Demon Hunters (2025) through expressive animation, articulate lyrics, and spectacular action, resulting in a gem that’s comical, romantic, exciting, and moving all at once.

It also makes older adults feel like part of things and not embarrassed about watching a youthful film.

A sequel is planned.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Animated Feature (won), Best Original Song-“Golden” (won)

1980 Films, Horror, Independent, Independent Horror

The Fog-1980

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The Fog-1980

Director John Carpenter

Starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Atkins

Scott’s Review #1,523

Reviewed March 9, 2026

Grade: A-

Ghost stories can be tough for a filmmaker to make interesting, let alone be successful. So much depends on atmosphere, mood, and good storytelling.

The most memorable ghost films are The Innocents (1961), The Shining (1980), and The Sixth Sense (1999), but there are bound to be others I can’t think of.

The key is to make the unbelievable believable and to make the subject matter realistic and spooky enough to avoid a mediocre or worse yet, hokey experience.

The Fog (1980) is one of the top-tier ghost stories, often mistaken for a slasher film, undoubtedly because it stars scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis and is directed by John Carpenter, who, two years earlier, had created one of the greatest slasher films, Halloween (1978).

It also stars slasher stalwarts Charles Cyphers and Nancy Loomis, and includes Halloween producer Debra Hill and Halloween editor Tommy Lee Wallace, who was once married to Loomis.

Additionally, Curtis’s mother, Janet Leigh (Psycho, 1960), is also in the cast, making the entire film an incestuous horror experience.

But it’s hardly Halloween lite.

Instead of making a patterned carbon copy, Carpenter pivots to a spooky, original story filled with exceptional jump scares, a foreboding musical score, and iridescent fog; a character in itself is so prominent.

The keyboard-tinged sounds are highly effective at delivering a downright scary mood.

One midnight hour, cleverly billed the ‘witching hour’ by sultry radio announcer Stevie (Adrienne Barbeau), strange things begin to occur as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary.

Reverend Malone (Hal Holbrook) stumbles upon a dark secret about the town’s past while reading his grandfather’s diary, and town resident Nick Castle (Tom Atkins) and hitchhiker Elizabeth (Curtis) try to save others from death as the body count begins to climb.

Savvy Halloween fans know that Nick Castle was a stuntman who played the Shape in the film. And, Carpenter makes a cameo as Bennett Tramer, a character in the Halloween franchise.

At a quick ninety minutes of running time, The Fog hardly has time to lag and almost feels like a short anthology. The brevity is to its advantage despite the many characters featured.

A common theme in horror, the film opens with a campfire story told around a campfire by an older man, Mr. Machen (John Houseman), to a group of startled kids about a doomed clipper ship that crashed into rocks a hundred years ago.

With the stage perfectly set, the killings ensue in rapid form first aboard a fisher boat and subsequently when deadly lepor beings rap loudly on their victim’s doors in the hopes of being answered.

The casting is an exceptional part of the fun. Atkins joins Holbrook, Curtis, Leigh, Loomis, Cyphers, and Barbeau to round out a phenomenal cast. I only wish mother and daughter, Curtis and Leigh, shared more screentime.

The special effects need to be seen in light of the 1980s cheesiness. Yes, in 2026, more CGI would be used, but the misty rolling fog and the shimmering light are quite impressive.

Unsure if Curtis or Barbeau is considered the lead (Barbeau gets my vote, but Curtis gets the cover shot), Curtis was a bankable horror film star, so perhaps an attempt to grab the younger demographic was the motivation.

Jump out of the seat, moments like a falling dead body, a hand on a shoulder, and a gruesome-looking hand smashing through glass are highly effective moments aided by perfectly placed synthesizer sounds.

A well-crafted, intelligent, though underappreciated horror effort, The Fog (1980) is more of a cult classic than a bona fide classic, which is a shame because it’s a very good film.

A dismal remake followed in 2005 and should be avoided.

1983 Films, Crime Thriller, Political Thriller, Thriller, Winter

Gorky Park-1983

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Gorky Park-1983

Director Michael Apted

Starring William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Joanna Pacula

Scott’s Review #1,522

Reviewed March 8, 2026

Grade: B+

Gorky Park (1983) is an aptly named thriller set in Moscow, Russia, involving a mysterious triple murder of three young adults while ice skating at the titled central park. In addition to being murdered, their faces have been skinned and their fingerprints removed.

Russian detective Arkady Renko (William Hurt) uncovers a network of deceit and intrigue when he investigates the murders.

As he tries to make progress on the case, it becomes apparent that the KGB doesn’t want the homicide to be solved, and Renko needs to know why. He eventually meets an American businessman, Jack Osborne (Lee Marvin), who offers some clues, but Renko soon realizes that Osborne may be involved in the plot.

He also meets and falls in love with a mysterious young woman, Irina Asanova (Joanna Pacula), who owned the ice skates found on one of the victims.

The film succeeds in outlining a compelling story that doesn’t lag and in providing a cold, wintry atmosphere, just what one would expect from the drab Russian environment. The audience knows deadly shananigans have occurred, and the film is fun to watch as it tries to connect the dots.

Even though the action is palpable, the ensuing mystery can feel overly complicated at times and hard to follow, leading to an overwhelming feeling.

Accepting Hurt, an American actor, as a Russian police investigator takes some time. For the first thirty minutes, I thought he was an American character.  He sometimes shows hints of an English accent and no Russian at all.

Once I accepted this, Hurt does a very good job at leading the film, which is a tough ask given the complexities of the story. He is handsome and a good guy wanting to do the right thing, so he’s easy to root for.

The film is adapted from the 1981 novel written by Martin Cruz Smith.

While most of the film is set in Moscow, the action later shifts to Stockholm, Sweden, a city I adore. Due to the Cold War conflicts between the Soviet Union and the United States, the film was obviously not shot in Moscow.

Finland and Sweden were the chosen filming locations.

As hard as I tried to follow the main plot, my mind occasionally wandered because there are KGB elements, Jack Osborne, Irina, and an American detective, William Kurwill, in the mix, as well as various colleagues and connections to Renko.

Any or all of these characters or organizations could be involved in the murders, and minor red herrings like the creepy Professor who recreates the victim’s heads and Irina, who comes off as a cold and unfeeling, emerge as the story goes along.

Despite the story’s complexities, Gorky Park is filmed very well and rises above the ranks of mediocrity it could have fallen into, since countless other political and crime thrillers have used the tired Russia/United States rivalry.

The elements are the best part because numerous snowy and bleak sequences enhance the overall story and atmosphere. A scene in woodsy Sweden is wonderfully cold and white, with the woods and a shack coming into play.

The romantic storyline between Renko and Irina is more plot-driven than anything fresh. It’s predictable from the moment the characters meet as they delve into a strong dislike that becomes a love formula.

While there are some cliches to endure, like menacing ‘type’ characters and the overuse of the word ‘comrade’, the film surprisingly feels crisp, and the big reveal and the hows and whys of a sable fur smuggling organization, though years later, feel dated, are interesting.

I’m not sure I need to see Gorky Park (1983) again, but considering it’s a political/crime thriller amid hundreds of similar films, it stands a bit above the rest.

2025 Films, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Drama, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama, Psychological Drama

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You-2025

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If I Had Legs I’d Kick You-2025

Director Mary Bronstein

Starring Rose Byrne, Conan O’Brien, Christian Slater

Scott’s Review #1,521

Reviewed February 25, 2026

Grade: A-

Not being a parent myself, nor ever having the desire to be one, I was nonetheless enthralled by the subject of stressed parenting explored in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025).

Examining our frazzled lead character, Linda’s, descent into madness after enduring day after day of adult chaos and kid problems, the role is wonderfully played by Rose Byrne.

The actor, though memorable in 2011’s classic Bridesmaids, is usually associated with one-note or throwaway roles throughout her long career.

It’s inspiring to see her finally get her due by playing a complex role with so much chops and receiving an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2025.

With her life crashing down around her, Linda, ironically a psychotherapist, attempts to navigate her child’s mysterious illness amid pressure from her therapist, her absent husband, a missing client, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her own therapist (Conan O’Brien), also a colleague.

After her living room is destroyed by water damage, she is reduced to renting a dingy motel for an extended period, where she encounters hostile motel workers.

Her saving grace is her late-night solitude, when she can peacefully indulge in wine and pot while sitting on the beach, contemplating her life.

Director Mary Bronstein, who also appears as a therapist, cleverly doesn’t show Linda’s daughter or husband for nearly the entire film, revealing them only through their grating voices. They irritate and stress Linda out to no end.

Undoubtedly, Bronstein either wanted to keep the focus on Linda and her daily peril or to leave it uncertain whether they even existed outside Linda’s mind.

The plot mostly involves a medical situation where Linda’s daughter, Delaney, has a pediatric feeding disorder that necessitates nightly supplemental feeding through a tube and participation in a day hospital program.

Her husband, a ship captain, is away, presumably at sea. This leaves Linda to handle everything.

Linda trudges through her days, arguing with a parking attendant and a contractor, while having misunderstandings with her therapist, patients, and a bitchy girl at her motel.

The supporting characters are well cast and add leverage to Linda’s peril by being completely unsympathetic and sour. O’Brien is excellent as the self-absorbed therapist, while Danielle Macdonald is good as a needy patient who ditches her baby.

But the film belongs to Byrne.

From the first scene, she wears a weary look, and her close-up facial expressions speak volumes about her peril. Linda looks washed out and exhausted while things spiral out of control. Nearly dozing off as a patient chatters away, she finally has had enough.

On the other hand, she is constantly on the brink of losing her shit.

Thanks to Byrne, we are treated to fist-pumping scenes where she lets loose on both therapists and the bitchy motel girl, instantly making Linda the only rootable character in the lot.

Still, she’s not exactly likable herself and incessantly makes poor choices. Her irritation with everything grows tiresome until the final sequence, when the film parleys into a message about mental illness.

If I should have found the film depressing, I didn’t.

Sprinkled with macabre humor, the film must have been influenced by the 1970 masterpiece Diary of a Mad Housewife, starring Carrie Snodgrass as a woman emotionally tortured by her selfish family and on the brink of a breakdown.

Bronstein, also the screenwriter, makes Linda the only character the audience should focus on, and all events are told from her perspective, which makes the film a winner.

Never knowing where events are headed, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025) is a sheer delight in comedic/dramatic insanity. Though it carries a strong central theme of mental wellness, it also promotes the important message that it’s also okay not to have kids who will ruin your life.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Rose Byrne

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best Director-Mary Bronstein, Best Lead Performance-Rose Byrne (won)

1960 Films, Comedy, Musical, Musical Comedy

Let’s Make Love-1960

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Let’s Make Love-1960

Director George Cukor

Starring Marilyn Monroe, Yves Montand, Frankie Vaughn

Scott’s Review #1,520

Reviewed February 22, 2026

Grade: C+

Let’s Make Love (1960) is a mediocre musical comedy starring Marilyn Monroe in one of her last film roles.  It would be her final musical film performance before she died in 1962.

Ironically, the iconic star plays a strong character, too frequently known for playing dimwits or money-hungry women. While refreshing, her role is almost a supporting turn for the star, playing a love interest to an uninteresting character portrayed by Yves Montand.

A very wealthy businessman, Jean-Marc Clement (Montand), has all the material possessions money can buy, but he has no love life. He seeks someone who loves him for who he is, not for his fortune.

One day, Clement learns that he is the subject of a satirical theater production and visits the set during a rehearsal. Unrecognized, the show’s unwitting producers offer him the part as himself, and he takes the gig to be close to the gorgeous yet down-to-earth actress Amanda Dell (Monroe).

This leads to a series of hijinks, misunderstandings, and, finally, an unfulfilling, predictable conclusion.

Monroe is terrific, of course, playing a character rich with honesty, integrity, and support for her theatre company. Amanda is not looking for a sugar daddy or a meal ticket and is content to while away the days doing what she loves on stage.

The film’s highlights occur when Monroe performs in showy outfits sparkling with glitter and color, oozing with sex appeal. Visually, she does not look as good as she did five years prior, appearing washed out and tired, but this can be attributed to knowing the personal turmoil she was in.

Numbers like the Cole Porter song “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” and the title track, “Let’s Make Love,” are moderately memorable and, because Monroe performs them, are worth hearing.

It’s also cool to see exterior shots of New York City in the early 1960s grace the screen, and the backdrop of a low-key theatre is appealing.

I couldn’t help but find Clement’s character harshly unlikable and incapable of sympathy. We are asked to root for a rich man who wants a loving woman but doesn’t treat others very well.

When female staff who take dictation are called into his office, he isn’t particularly warm to them. His assistant, Alexander Kaufman, played by Tony Randall in a tepid performance, caters to Clement’s every whim but isn’t treated kindly in return.

In fact, the irritation is increased because the character of Tony Danton, Amanda’s boozy co-star, is very likable and a perfect match for Amanda.

Why the writers decided Clement and Amanda were better suited for each other is a mystery we’ll probably never figure out.

The biggest mistake is the lack of chemistry between Clement and Amanda, who have none. On the other hand, in the few scenes they share, Tony and Amanda have a tremendous connection.

What a missed opportunity.

Besides the main storyline, there is a silly side story about financing the production and a pissing match over who controls the theatre and its show. This was terribly unnecessary and would have been better if Amanda had been given her own side story, or better yet, a triangle between Amanda/Clement/Tony.

Troubles surrounded the production with various starts and stops, restarts, and proposed reshoots. This affects the film’s look and feel, and it’s apparent that the pacing is terribly uneven.

Even the incorporation of big stars like Milton Berle and cameos by Gene Kelly and Bing Crosby does nothing for the film.

It’s hard to believe that, aside from the outfits and musical numbers, George Cukor directed the film, since he would direct the sensational My Fair Lady in 1964.

Since I adore Marilyn Monroe, I desperately wanted to like Let’s Make Love (1960), but didn’t. The misplaced characters, the lukewarm pacing, and missed opportunities for a better story led to boredom and disappointment.

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Score

2025 Films, Comedy, Drama, Sports

Marty Supreme-2025

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Marty Supreme-2025

Director Josh Safdie

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’Zion

Scott’s Review #1,519

Reviewed February 19, 2026

Grade: A

At a mere thirty years old, Timothée Chalamet has already amassed some terrific film roles in Call Me By Your Name (2017), Wonka (2023), and A Complete Unknown (2024).

Portraying unique and offbeat characters is his sweet spot. 

Playing Marty Mauser in the film Marty Supreme (2025) is his best performance to date. He seamlessly turns a character the audience should dislike into an instant fan favorite who we laugh with, cry with, and root for to overcome life obstacles.

He is a nobody who desperately wants to be a somebody.

While Chalamet leads the charge, he is aided by strong supporting performances from Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary, and Fran Drescher as characters who weave into Marty’s web of adventures.

Even actors appearing in only a few scenes are flawlessly cast, providing an authentic look at working-class and affluent white Jewish people in New York at the time.  A racial harmony is also set by including a handful of black characters as dear friends of Marty’s.

Set in 1950s New York City, Marty is a young man with a dream of becoming the world’s best table tennis player, despite setbacks and a lack of respect for the sport.

With a needy mother (Drescher), two different on again off again girlfriends who are both married, one a childhood buddy and one twice his age (A’zion and Paltrow), a pathway to a dull career as a shoe salesman, and a tumultuous relationship with a successful businessman (played by Kevin O’Leary), the cards in life are stacked against him.

Yet, Marty consistently manipulates his way to a free trip to London and Tokyo, and several get-rich-quick schemes to get what he wants and to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Acting is only a part of the overall success of Marty Supreme. Thanks to Josh Safdie’s (Good Time, 2017; Uncut Gems, 2019) superior direction, all technical capabilities are flawlessly executed, and an unpredictable story is achieved.

The pacing is quick and organized, leaving never a dull moment in nonstop Marty adventures. Sequences like the search for a lost dog portray perilous moments of danger as the dog becomes a more prominent character than expected.

The editing is superior, making the fast-paced table tennis sequences both thrilling and exhausting. The quick dialogue, whether during phone conversations, in a dusty theater, or in an exquisite hotel room, all add up to a tight package of filmmaking.

Finally, the costumes and art direction more than adequately showcase a period when a few Americans were affluent. At the same time, the rest struggled to make ends meet while pursuing their own version of the American dream.

I’ve been a fan of Safdie since he was an up-and-comer making the independent film Good Time with his brother Benny, and he has since come into his own with the grizzled crime thriller Uncut Gems starring Adam Sandler.

Seeming to enjoy the New York setting in his films, just like director Paul Thomas Anderson prefers sunny California, he is steadily making his films highly recognizable.

Continuing on the theme of good film balance, Safdie incorporates naughty scenes like Marty’s humiliating bare bottom spanking in front of snickering businessmen, and a daring scene where he goes down on an aging film actress (Paltrow) in Central Park.

This ensures some humor is present.

The haves and have-nots support Marty’s journey. Wanting more than the life his depressed mother or shady friends have, Marty aspires to be in the big leagues. He will lie, cheat, or steal from whomever he needs to to achieve this.

And yet, Marty is kindhearted and humorous in his pursuits. He giggles when he can lounge in a lavish hotel and order room service or shmooze among rich theater types at a grandiose party.

Class distinctions are an important part of the character’s motivation for a better life.

Deservedly recognized with many awards-season accolades, Marty Supreme (2025) is an example of a young director coming into his own, with ample resources to make a gem of a film.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director-Josh Safdie, Best Actor-Timothée Chalamet, Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Costume Design

1976 Films, Comedy, Sexploitation

Up!-1976

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Up! -1976

Director Russ Meyer

Starring Raven De La Croix, Robert McLane, Janet Wood

Scott’s Review #1,518

Reviewed February 15, 2026

Grade: B+

A follow-up to the masterpiece Supervixens (1975), sexploitation guru Russ Meyer released Up! (1976), a film in a similar vein with enough bare skin and sexual acts to make even the sexually open-minded blush just a bit.

Ridiculous and titillating beyond belief, the film is meant to be enjoyed for what it is rather than analyzed. Still, despite the sexual escapades of large-breasted women and taut young men, the film achieves a measure of female empowerment through its characters.

As far as Meyer films go, Supervixens, Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965), and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) are my favorites, but Up! deserves credit for its outrageous and wacky nature alone.

The plot is quite thin, but it kicks off with a man named Adolf Schwartz (Edward Schaaf), who lives in a Bavarian-style castle in Northern California. After an orgy in the dungeon with three women and a man, he is murdered when someone places a deadly piranha fish in his bathtub.

Some time later, Margo Winchester (Raven De La Croix) hitchhikes to the nearby town of Miranda, where she is raped. With assistance from a horny sheriff (Monty Bane), she finds work at a local diner owned by Alice (Janet Wood) and Paul (Robert McLane).

Subsequent hijinks ensue like another rape in a dive bar, countless nude chase scenes and sex in the woods, and a revenge tale involving the child of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun.

Up! and most other Russ Meyer films are for a specific audience only and are not recommended for fans of mainstream cinema. Prudish, uptight individuals, or those expecting a tight story or professional acting will not be satisfied.

However, for an eye-opening or eye-popping experience, sure to leave your mouth agape at some of the raunchy sequences, you will find Up! rather endearing.

Amid the sexuality and chesty scenes are some laugh-out-loud wooden performances, mostly from the lead, De La Croix, though she is also wonderful to watch in her debut film. And considering she had no acting experience when cast, she’s not all that bad.

The best scenes are when she charges through the forest, naked, of course, fleeing a character, Alice, out for revenge. The women trade barbs while playing cat and mouse and occasionally engaging in sex.

A separator from other Meyer films is the incorporation of bisexuality in nearly all circles.

Handsome lead actor, Robert McLane, gets it on with nearly everyone, including Adolf Hitler, who, in hilarious and satisfying form, desires some rear entry.

While hardly a message movie, the inclusion of Hitler and Nazi references reinforces the hypocrisy of the entire movement.

The Paul, Alice, Margo triangle is good fun, especially as the trio briefly lives an idyllic lifestyle serving up hash at their diner, led mostly by Margo and her low-cut uniform.

This harkens back to a similar theme in Supervixens, during a happy sequence involving the central characters.

A Meyer film wouldn’t be a Meyer film without an appropriate dose of gore. A sharp ax comes into play during the latter part of the film after a gang rape goes awry.

The full frontal nudity, both male and female, is rampant and includes The Greek Chorus (Kitten Natividad), who appears nude except for long black boots, and boldly opens the film and appears between scenes to provide narration, plot details, and updates.

Up! (1976) is a fine addition to the Russ Meyer viewing collection and showcases the Pacific Northwest of the United States in an atypical way. It’s fun, silly, and quite refreshing.

2025 Films, Documentary, Independent

The Perfect Neighbor-2025

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The Perfect Neighbor-2025

Director Geeta Gandbhir

Starring Various 

Scott’s Review #1,517

Reviewed February 13, 2026

Grade: B+

The Perfect Neighbor (2025) is an enthralling documentary that will surely please fans of crime scene investigations. Those familiar with the case in question, as I was, will benefit greatly from engagement.

On the other hand, those unfamiliar may be equally mesmerized, having no knowledge of the outcome.

The bottom line is that the project, directed by Geeta Gandbhir, is excellent work across many aspects, including camerawork, story, and raw video footage, most of which was captured on police body cams.

A seemingly minor neighborhood squabble between a white woman named Susan and a black neighbor named Ajike in rural Ocala, Florida, escalates into a fatal shooting, with Susan ultimately killing Ajike.

The film chronicles the lead-up period from 2022 to June 2023, when the shooting occurs. We see from repeated 911 calls and complaints that Susan regularly reported neighborhood kids being noisy or playing on or around her property.

Police bodycam footage and investigative interviews are largely used throughout the documentary to show the progression of the incident and questioning by the police detectives following the shooting.

Florida’s controversial “stand your ground” law, which allows someone who is fearful for their life to defend themselves using a firearm, is showcased in the final segment since it was used as a defense.

The case was high-profile in the United States.

As a disclaimer, Gandbhir is the victim’s sister-in-law’s best friend, so the perspective is from Ajike and her family more than Susan’s.

Emotional sequences, such as when Ajike’s kids are told that their mother has died, are heartwrenching and tremendously effective. Later, anger erupts when Susan is allowed to return home amid shouts from Ajike’s family members.

Susan, who is heavily featured, is not meant to elicit sympathy, though once or twice I did feel sorry for her. Yes, she is the neighborhood nuisance and inexplicably calls the cops unnecessarily, but is she lonely, or does she feel left out?

Would Susan have accepted an invitation to a neighborhood barbecue?

Gandbhir might have delved a bit more into Susan’s personal life, but the intention feels more like making it clear she is a piranha.

At one point early on, Susan proclaims to be a doctor, but the claim is never confirmed or denied.

I would have liked to have known more about Susan. At one point, a female friend briefly appears.  Was Susan married? Did she work? Was she actually a doctor? If so, what led her to a poor neighborhood?

Despite the filmmakers’ slanted viewpoint, whether justified or not, the end product is visually exceptional. The use of police cams and raw footage makes the viewer feel like an observer in the action, almost as if they are there in real time, standing alongside the cops and hearing witness accounts.

The production, direction, and editing are the documentary’s sweet spot and are technically excellent.

Beginning with a brief snippet of the fateful night, we then go back to the first complaint, and the documentary is henceforth chronological.

Most scenes are interviews with the participants, which makes it interesting to determine who is right or wrong and for the viewer to assess who is to blame. Or are multiple parties to blame? We merely see the aftereffects of the altercations, not the altercations themselves.

The message of The Perfect Neighbor (2025) is to question the systemic failures and uncertainties of the American legal system and to determine whether racism was a factor in a horrific small-town event or in the Florida stand-your-ground law itself.

Oscar Nominations: Best Documentary

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best Documentary (won)

Welcome to my blog!1,541 reviews posted so far! I'm Scott Segrell and I reside in Stamford, CT. My site features hundreds of film reviews I have written since I launched the site in 2014. I hope you enjoy reading my latest reviews or searching for your own favorites to see if we agree. Please see my featured films of the month, and don't forget to utilize the tags and category links.