Film Murder Party Review (Film, 2007) I'm all for a low-concept horror film. Sure, a high concept horror film, one with a simple idea that is easy to market and produce, is more likely to be polished and clear in its purpose, but a nice broad-reaching, low-concept, throw everything out there and see what sticks horror film can be an exp
Uncategorized Saving Bansky (Film, 2017) Saving Banksy is a documentary about the value and purpose of street art/graffiti in modern society. Yes, the documentary deals with Banksy's work, but the actual scope goes far beyond the specifics of one artist. It's largely a discussion about context, artist's intent, ownership in public spaces,
Film The Happytime Murders Review (Film, 2018) A pretty common flaw in edgy adult humor films is equating shock value--unexpectedly sexual moments, gore, drug abuse, violence, etc.--with mature humor. These gross out moments do not automatically something funny or edgy. They often just distract from the rest of the film. The Happytime Murders,
Reviews Afflicted Review (TV Series, 2018) When I had cable, I made a bad habit out of binge watching medical realty shows on TLC and Discovery. I really could not get enough of shows about mystery illnesses, extreme surgeries, and rare conditions. The shows were utter trash--poorly edited, melodramatic for no reason, and filled with a false
Film Dead Ringers Review (Film, 1988) David Cronenberg somehow finds a way to turn any film into a body horror film. It doesn't matter what the actual plot is, or the genre, or the overall tone of the film. At some point, there will be a shift to incredibly visceral horror, if only for a moment, to comment on the characters' relationshi
Games Graveyard Keeper Review (Game, 2018) Some play games to compete and win. I play games to relax. This does not mean that the games I play are particularly peaceful or gentle. They're an escape. They're a chance to explore other worlds, try out new things, and find my own way. This is why I'm drawn to simulator games, especially simulat
Books/Print The Haunting of Hill House: A History Yesterday, Netflix announced that Shirley Jackson's gothic masterpiece The Haunting of Hill House is coming to the streaming service as a 10 episode series. Mike Flanagan, the writer/director of Gerald's Game and Ouija: Origin of Evil, is the show runner. I'll be perfectly honest. I did not expect t
Film The Void Review (Film, 2017) What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase "80's horror movie?" Is it low budget? Is it bloody? Is it a lot of effects held together by a flimsy plot? Or is it innovation? The origins of modern special effects? Highly political works commenting on major issues and trends in society through an
Film Emelie Review (Film, 2015) It's hard to get a bead on what Emelie is trying to do at first. The opening scene features a teenager being abducted into a car. Abduction horror is a thing and the scene, though really quiet, is well shot. Then we go to parents trying to get their kids ready for the new babysitter. The oldest boy
Film XX Review (Film, 2017) I think there's nothing quite like a good anthology horror film. It's like a horror buffet. You get a little taste of everything. The shorter time for each individual story allows for wonderful and bizarre stories to be fully told onscreen. The directors and writers get to share the wealth. Their vi
Uncategorized The Boy Review (Film, 2016) Evil doll stories are a mainstay in horror. From the iconic "Living Doll" episode of Twilight Zone to the never-ending Child's Play series, stories featuring puppets, toys, and decorative dolls that come to life for nefarious means have terrified audiences for decades. There are layers to the horror
Film 1922 Review (Film, 2017) It is not a popular opinion, but it is one that I've held for as long as I've seriously studied and written about horror. I believe that Stephen King is at his best in the short story format. The longer he writes a narrative, the more convoluted it becomes. His short stories, as strange as some of t
Reviews Camp Wannakiki Review (Web Series, 2018) …There have been web-based drag reality competitions before Camp Wanwakiki [https://campwannakiki.com/]. Even Dragula started out that way before getting picked up by OutTV in Canada. Camp Wanwakiki is noteworthy in an ever-growing pool of drag reality TV for its perspective, gimmick, and heart.
Uncategorized How to Talk to Girls at Parties Review (Film, 2018) After watching How to Talk to Girls at Parties, I feel safe saying John Cameron Mitchell is an underrated film director. His creativity is respected, but only when applied to other areas. The focus of his adaptation of his own musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch was on his performance, not how he tran
Views On Integrity, Plagiarism, and Online Media I've worked in arts education for over a decade year round teaching music and theater courses. I also spent the better part of three years hustling hard to get an English teacher position at the high school level. I'm still teaching music and theater, but my Bye Bye Birdie LARP adventure is suspende
Film The Academy Awards Break Film Twitter with New Category and Broadcast Changes or something I've heard referred to as irrelevant and out of touch with society for years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, aka AMPAS, aka the organization that runs the Academy Awards, sure did blow up film Twitter yesterday. The Academy announced three new changes that will impact
Games Dead by Daylight: Scorching Summer BBQ Event I mentioned this in the review of the Curtain Call DLC [https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sketchydetails.us/sketchy-details/dbdcurtaincall&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwiTzcOdst3cAhUPc98KHdueCD0QFggFMAA&client=internal-uds-cse&cx=partner-pub-6855744654454624:4453347571&usg=AOvVaw072w5WER-bxe1G-_AHP_A0], but I'
Film Clinical Review (Film, 2017) In Clinical, a psychiatrist shifts her focus from trauma patients to more everyday concerns after a traumatic incident with a former patient. A young woman attacked her in her office after her treatments did not go as planned. The psychiatrist is making great progress until a trauma patient begs her
Film Veronica Review (Film, 2018) On paper, Veronica has no right to be as good as it is. The plot description is riddled with horror cliches, including the dreaded "based on a true story" text. There's even a marketing campaign for its Netflix release about how people are turning it off because it's too scary to finish (at least a
Reviews Making It Review (TV, 2018) I'm a reality TV junkie. Give me a talent show and I will watch it. Give me unscripted reality and I will...not change the channel, but maybe not actively invest in it. I'm old enough that my high school jazz band used to go hang out after rehearsals and watch the first season of Survivor. The viewi
Film Verónica Review (Film, 2017) Verónica is a psychological horror film from directors Carlos Algara and Alejandro Martinez-Beltran and screenwriters Carlos Algara and Tomas Nepomuceno. It is a familiar story told with beautiful style and precise editing. A psychologist takes on a new patient, the titular Verónica, who is refer
Games House Flipper Review (PC Game, 2018) I love a good relaxing simulation game. I'm always down to try out a new Sims title, or a theme park builder, or--the newest established style in the genre--a career simulator. There's a meditative quality to even the most stressful releases in this genre. You are fully in control of an immersive wo
Film Beatriz at Dinner Review (Film, 2017) Beatriz, an alternative therapist specializing in all kinds of healing, winds up spending the night at her client's mansion for a dinner party. She is a Mexican immigrant and environmentalist, surrounded for the night by a group of cutthroat white business people. The night is to celebrate a controv
Uncategorized Dead by Daylight Mid-Season Patch 2.1.0 Updates I have a very specific pattern as a gamer. I always have a wide range of games ready and available to play at a given time. If I want to game on console, I catch up with titles I wanted to play all at once. On PC, it's the Steam sale and keeping track of interesting Kickstarters and livestreams. I d
Film Skins Review (Film, 2018) Content Warning: Skins is an anthology film where many stories intersect around sexual abuse. Skins (Pieles) is the debut feature length film from writer/director Eduardo Casanova. He is an actor turned director who called on every resource he had--namely a phenomenal group of actors he had perform
