The Old Dark House (1932)

“Laughter and sin….”

With a cast that featured Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Lilian Bond, and the director James Whale, you’d think that 1932’s The Old Dark House would have been a massive hit. Instead, it fell through the cracks of cinematic history and was believed to be lost at one point. I only recently discovered the film while searching for 1930s films on Amazon Prime. I’m glad that I found it.

The film takes place in Wales on a terribly stormy night. The storm is so bad, in fact, that a young couple, Philip and Margaret Waverton, (Raymond Massey, Gloria Stuart), and their friend, Penderel (Douglas), are forced to seek shelter at a dark and mysterious home in the Welsh countryside. Their hosts are Horace and Rebecca Femm (Ernest Thesiger, Eva Moore), an odd pair of siblings that seem to be hiding something, and their loyal but mute butler, Morgan (Karloff). Later in the evening, another couple arrive seeking shelter from the storm. The duo are Sir William Porterhouse (Charles Laughton) and his companion, Gladys Ducane (Bond). As the group get to know one another, it becomes obvious that there is something very sinister going on at the Femm homestead. The storm rages on as certain members of the group pair off and others deal with psychological terror. Throw in an insane third member of the Femm family and you’ve got a nice mixture of mayhem.

The cast do fine jobs in their respective roles. Titanic (1997) fans may recognize Stuart, who would go on to portray the elderly version of Rose in that film. Douglas, Laughton, and Massey also deliver solid performances. Moore is wonderfully wicked as the twisted Rebecca Femm, and almost steals the show if it weren’t for the performance of the beautiful Lilian Bond. She demands your attention whenever she’s on the screen. She’s a timeless beauty that shines to this day. Sadly, Karloff doesn’t have much to do in this film except lurch about while terrorizing pretty much anyone in his path.

The film is far from James Whale’s best work, but it is a serviceable horror film. Unlike other Universal films of the time, the horror doesn’t live within a monster, it’s in the minds of the group trapped in the Femm home. I definitely recommend checking out this flick. It’s a fun ride with a great cast.

Thanks for checking out my review.

The Comic Shop (2025)

“It’s never too late to become what you might have been.”

While cruising around on Amazon Prime last night, I found a nice little gem entitled The Comic Shop. I was completely unaware of this film, but considering how much I enjoy reading comic books and hanging out at my local comic shop, I decided to give this film a look. It’s nothing flashy or earth shattering, but I really enjoyed it.

The film stars Jesse Metcalfe (John Tucker Must Die, Desperate Housewives) as Mike, the owner of a slowly dying comic book shop on the Las Vegas Strip. At one time, Mike dreamed of being an illustrator but decided to settle for the security of his own store. Assisting him at the shop is Alex (Tristin Mays of MacGyver, The Vampire Diaries). Mike’s shop has yet to recover from the damage done by the COVID-19 lockdown, and a new comic shop is threatening to close him down permanently. Hoping to stay afloat, Mike goes all in with an old friend who is pushing a new independent comic label. Along for the ride is Brandon (Micah Giovanni), a budding artist who is struggling with being the new kid in town and failing miserably in his relationship with his father. Mike and Brandon bond over comics and artwork and Mike helps Brandon mend his relationship with his dad. Alex goes to work for the competition whenever Mike has to let her go to save money and she ends up being used by the new store to try and take down Mike for good. What happens next? Check out The Comic Shop to find out the rest of the story.

The film has a couple of cool cameos from Carrot Top and Eric Roberts. The acting is okay. It’s just a fun, lighthearted film that most of the family can enjoy. Do know that there are a few brief moments of strong language.

The film has a strong message of finding common ground with those who don’t necessarily share your interests. It also encourages folks to pursue their dreams and take a chance every now and then. It’s not a perfect film at all, but it is a nice way to kill a couple of hours in the afternoon. It’s available on a number of free streamers and on Amazon Prime. I recommend it, but don’t expect it to blaze any new cinematic trails.

Thanks for checking out my post.

McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Gold Label: Sinestro (Parallax)

“Fear is born.”

Fueled by his hate for the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro unleashes the power of fear with Parallax. Released in 2024, two years after the Hal Jordan Parallax figure, McFarlane Toys does a decent job of capturing Sinestro in all of his Parallax empowered glory. The figure utilizes the exact same mold as the Hal Jordan Parallax figure and thus features the same amount of articulation points, which is twenty-five.

Aside from the paint applications, which are composed of pink, black, and white on a gold base, and Sinestro’s head, there aren’t any differences between the Hal Jordan version and Sinestro’s version of Parallax. Sinestro does come with one lone construct, a yellow Parallax construct, but that’s it for accessories. He does come with the token base and collector card, but nothing else.

Sinestro’s articulation is very stiff. His cape is one solid piece. Thankfully, McFarlane has moved away from the molded capes and have chosen to finish out their DC Mulitverse run with wired capes in their final figures. Sinestro’s face looks amazing, properly evil, but the paint apps on the body are hit and miss.

I understand why McFarlane chose to reuse the Hal Jordan mold and I really love Sinestro as a character, but I don’t recommend purchasing this figure unless you’re a big Sinestro fan or can find it on clearance like I did. McFarlane’s run with DC is almost over, so be sure to grab some of your favorite figures before Hasbro gets their hands back in the DC Multiverse.

Thanks for checking out my review. I have plans to review quite a few upcoming McFarlane figures, so keep an eye out for them.

Heart Eyes (2025)

“We’re not even a couple!”

While St. Valentine’s Day is no stranger to the horror genre, with films like Valentine (2001) and both of the My Bloody Valentine films (1981, 2009) being some of the more popular movies in this vein, 2025’s Heart Eyes takes the beloved holiday into a humorous but very enjoyable direction. The film stars Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding as two advertising agents forced to work together to stop a relentless serial killer known as the Heart Eyes Killer or “HEK” for short.

Holt’s Ally McCabe, a young woman that has given up on love, and Gooding’s Jay Simmonds, a hopeless romantic, find themselves in a fight for their lives as they battle HEK. The killer has made a habit of killing multiple couples on Valentine’s Day in Boston and Philadelphia in the last couple of years, and has now made his/her way to Seattle to add to the kill count in 2025. Although HEK targets couples, anyone that gets in the way is a potential victim. HEK uses a number of weapons to deal out death, using everything from a good old-fashioned machete to a crossbow on his/her victims. As the body count rises, so do the feelings between Ally and Jay. Do they survive the most terrifying romantic night of their lives? Watch Heart Eyes to find out what happens!

Jordana Brewster, Devon Sawa, and Mason Gooding star in a scene from the movie “Heart Eyes.”

I really enjoyed this movie. It has the perfect blend of humor and horror. It borrows heavily from the Scream franchise and Ghostface fans will quickly pick up on the similarities between the films. It was also nice to see Devon Sawa chew his way through the film as Hobbs, a macho detective hunting for the Heart Eyes Killer along with his buddy, Detective Shaw, portrayed by the always lovely Jordana Brewster. I don’t need to mention the fact that Sawa has been a staple of the horror genre for decades thanks to his work in the Chucky TV series and in films like Idle Hands and Final Destination, but it’s worth saying. Brewster is no slouch when it comes to horror films, either, having appeared in The Faculty and in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning. There’s also a nod to her work in the Fast & Furious franchise as well. The rest of the cast has little to do in the film, but I did like Gigi Zumbado as Ally’s friend Monica and I always love seeing Michaela Watkins on the screen. She’s hilarious as Ally’s boss, Crystal Cane.

The Heart Eyes killer from Screen Gems and Spyglass Media Group’s HEART EYES.

If you enjoy the Scream franchise or modern slasher films in general, give Heart Eyes a look. It has a great blend of humor, horror, and action and you won’t regret watching it. Hopefully we get a sequel to this film. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for it if and when a second film goes into production.

Nosferatu (2024)

“You are my affliction.”

I was a bit conflicted as to how I should approach 2024’s Nosferatu. The film, directed by Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Northman), is a remake of F. W. Murnau’s Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, which was a ripoff of the original Dracula story by Bram Stoker. I really enjoyed Murnau’s silent tale, and I loved Eggers’ The Northman and really liked The Witch, but everything about Nosferatu feels forced.

The acting is all over the place, with Lily-Rose Depp winning the overacting award, Nicholas Hoult looking confused the entire time, and Bill Skarsgard hidden under a hulking mass of makeup, belching out muddled lines in long, drawn out monologues. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was a surprise to see in the film, but he seemed just as confused and out of place as Hoult. Willem Dafoe portrayed von Franz as a spastic old man. Only Ralph Ineson as Dr. Sievers seemed to have a hold on what he was doing in the film. This may be due to the fact that he already worked with Eggers in The Witch.

The pace of the film was slow. The cinematography was drab, intentionally, I know, but it was almost too drab, as if to make you feel some sort of impending doom while watching the film. The payoff that this drab look and feel arrived at was nothing special. In fact, the classic 1922 ending was much, much better.

In short, I didn’t care for this film. It was boring, too long, and full of bad acting and forced atmosphere that just never connected with me. Give it a look on Peacock if you’d like, but you aren’t missing much.

McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Gold Label: Green Lantern Hal Jordan

“In brightest day….”

I grew up reading the stories of Hal Jordan as the Green Lantern. He’s always been my favorite member of the Lantern Corps even though I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the adventures of other Corps members such as Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, Kilowog, and others. For some reason, I just love the character of Hal Jordan. That being said, I had to get my hands on the Walmart Exclusive Gold Label Green Lantern Hal Jordan figure. I found him on the peg in store one day, and didn’t hesitate to add him to my collection.

Hal comes with the standard collector card and DC Multiverse stand. He also comes with two constructs, a boxing glove and a rocket pack. McFarlane remains insistent on keeping accessories to a bare minimum, but in the case of the Green Lantern, I’ll let that slide.

The figure features the same mold used for earlier Green Lantern figures, including the Endless Winter John Stewart figure. That figure features the same hole in its back that fits the rocket pack that comes with the Gold Label Hal Jordan, so now you have something to plug in back there if you so wish and happen to have that figure. What sets this particular mold apart is the fact that it has some decent weight to it. The John Stewart figure is extremely light and feels cheaply put together. The Hal Jordan figure also features much tighter joints than the Stewart figure.

The paint apps look very nice. Hal’s green paint has a nice sheen to it that sets it apart from the more dull green apps of other Green Lantern figures in the McFarlane lineup. His white gloves look wonderful as well. The only minor complaint that I have is the fact that his shoulder joints feature a black spot where the hinge is located.

With great articulation and an amazing overall look and design, I definitely recommend this Hal Jordan figure to anybody that is a fan of ol’ Highball. Pick it up if you can find it at Walmart or order it online.

Focus On Christmas: Don’t Open Till Christmas (1984)

“Only three more killing days to Christmas.”

Scotland Yard goes on a wild manhunt to find a mysterious killer that is murdering any and everyone dressed as Santa Claus on the streets of London in 1984’s Don’t Open Till Christmas. The British slasher film didn’t make much of an impact on the big screen, but it has found new life over the years on home media and streaming services. It’s a fairly generic slasher film that features a number of tragic ends for many of its cast members in real life.

The film stars Alan Lake, Belinda Mayne, Gerry Sundquist, Mark Jones, and Kelly Baker. It also features a cameo appearance from Hammer Horror legend, Caroline Munro, portraying herself. Some of the supporting players in the film include Pat Astley, Laurence Harrington, and Derek Ford. Also starring in and directing the film is Edmund Purdom.

In the film, Chief Inspector Harris (Purdom) leads up the hunt for the Santa slayer. His prime suspect is Cliff Boyd (Sundquist), who happens to be the boyfriend of Kate Briosky (Mayne), whose wealthy father was murdered at a Christmas party in front of her. Harris believes that Boyd, or possibly Kate, murdered Kate’s father in order to gain his inheritance. As more bodies pile up, however, Harris shifts his investigation to other suspects. A young stripper (Baker) witnesses the murder of a Santa while performing in a peep show house and she manages to get a decent look at his eyes behind his mask. She goes to Harris and a manhunt ensues. Will Christmas come early for Scotland Yard or will there be more Kris Kringle killings???? Find out by watching Don’t Open Till Christmas.

As I stated before, this is a pretty generic slasher flick. The killer does have a motive, revealed near the end of the film, and there is a little twist that’s pretty obvious early on that comes to light at the film’s conclusion. That said, there were quite a few decent performances in this film. Kelly Baker is brilliant as Sherry, the young stripper that witnesses a murder in the film. Sadly, her career appears to have been limited to only three films. I don’t know what has happened to her since making those movies. Mayne and Sundquist also give great performances. Mayne is perhaps best known by American audiences for her appearance in the Doctor Who serial, Delta And The Bannermen. She also appeared in Krull and had a bit part in Wonder Woman 1984. Sundquist appeared in numerous film and television roles during his career, most notably an appearance in Space 1999. Tragically, Sundquist took his own life in 1993 whenever he jumped in front of a train at the Norbiton Railway Station. Another terrible tragedy was the suicide of Alan Lake. Lake shot himself just a few months after the death of his wife, Diana Dors, to cancer. The film was released after his suicide.

It should also be mentioned that Derek Ford, who portrays one of the Santa Claus victims in the film, was a prominent adult film writer and director in the 1970s. Also, Pat Astley featured in a number of adult films, some which were hardcore, before landing a brief role on the highly successful comedy, Are You Being Served?. She was eventually released from that series due to her work in adult films but managed to continue working in mainstream movies in small roles (which almost always involved nudity) until her final appearance on film in Don’t Open Till Christmas.

Generic as it may be, check out Don’t Open Till Christmas. Terrible tragedies, the adult film industry, and even ol’ Doctor Who all have ties to this twisted little film. Thanks for checking out my post. See you again real soon.

Thirty-One Days O’Horror: Let’s Ride!

Next Year Is Gonna Be A Gas!!!!

I hope that you all enjoyed this year’s Thirty-One Days O’Horror celebrating all things vampire. Next year, I’ll be hitchhiking my way across the world in search of horror films feature legendary automobiles! From the Creeper’s truck to the terrifyingly beautiful Christine, I’m going to watch thirty-one horror films featuring iconic vehicles and hopefully introduce you to a few films that you haven’t seen.

This will definitely be a challenge for me, as I’m not familiar with a lot of horror films that feature iconic vehicles. Sure, I know about The Wraith and The Car, but outside of those films and a few others, this will be new territory for me. If you have any automobile horror films that you’d like me to watch and review, let me know in the comments section!

I can’t wait to start watching films for next year’s Thirty-One Days O’Horror. I hope that you enjoy going on this journey with me. Make sure to change your oil and replace your shocks, next Halloween is gonna be a bumpy ride!

Halloween Bites! Dracula (1931)

“There are far worse things awaiting man than death.”

Happy Halloween! It’s the final day of October and the final day of this year’s Thirty-One Days O’Horror! With that in mind, I decided to make the final post of October about the legendary Dracula (1931). There’s really not a lot that I can say about this film that hasn’t been said already, but I’ll do my best.

The film is considered by many to be the one that sparked the horror genre on the big screen. Sure, films like Nosferatu (1922) and The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) have their place in cinematic horror history, but Dracula pulled in big numbers of viewers and triggered what would eventually become the Universal Monsters Universe. It features one of the most iconic performances of all time: Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula. Plenty of other actors have portrayed the character over the years from Christopher Lee to Gary Oldman to Jack Palance, but when someone mentions the name “Dracula,” most people envision Lugosi in black with his sinister gaze.

The film also features amazing performances from other actors including David Manners, Edward Van Sloan, Helen Chandler, and Frances Dade. Perhaps most notable outside of Lugosi is the performance of Dwight Frye as Renfield. Frye’s fall into madness is one of the best performances in the film. Tod Browning’s direction is excellent as well.

Watch this film for its historical significance, but watch it for the brilliant film that it is as well. I also highly recommend the Spanish version of the film starring Carlos Villarias, Lupita Tovar, Barry Norton, and Pablo Alvarez Rubio. It used the same sets as the Lugosi film, but was directed by George Melford. The film, despite having the same plot, is unique and worth your attention.

I hope that you enjoyed this year’s Thirty-One Days O’Horror theme. I’ll be announcing next year’s theme in the very near future. Thank you so much for joining me this year and I hope that you have a wonderful Halloween!

Halloween Bites! Netherbeast Incorporated

“He’s a vampire and I’m not.”

Corporate America is full of bloodsucking, vile people willing to step on anybody that stands in their way on the road to success. Berm-Tech is full of bloodsuckers as well, but they are all pretty nice folks that get along quite well with one another……and they’re all vampires. in 2007’s Netherbeast Incorporated, the vampire employees of Berm-Tech find themselves in quite the pickle whenever employees at every level begin to vanish, the Netherstone is stolen (more on that later), and the CEO, who happens to be losing his mind, hires a human employee and an efficiency expert that employees see as a threat to their livelihood. Otto (Steve Burns) starts to have feelings for the human hire named Pearl (Amy Davidson) and together they team up with other employees to find out what’s happening to the missing employees. What happens? Watch Netherbeast Incorporated to find out what’s really going down at Berm-Tech!

The film is a lighthearted horror comedy that focuses on the oddities and quirks of office workers with a vampire twist. It also expands and changes a few things about vampire lore. The whodunit aspect of the film is pretty easy to solve, but the real fun in this film is the working hacks in the office. Otto is intelligent and nice. He’s also a bit awkward around Pearl. His best friend, “Waxy” Dan Paraffin (Jay Mewes from the Jay and Silent Bob Askewniverse), attempts to help him let Pearl down easy. Darrell Hammond plays CEO Turner Claymore, who makes a lot of really bad decisions (like most CEOs at some point), but he also has a lot of heart and cares for his employees (unlike many real world CEOs). Other working stiffs include Bob Rue as Bunyan Pritchett, Dave Foley as Henry Welby, and Robyn Allen as Rebecca Sibley. Judd Nelson portrays the overly positive efficiency expert, Steven P.D. Landry.

When you really boil down to it, the vampires in Netherbeast Incorporated are actually much better humans than real world humans working in an office. They try their best to get along with one another and protect each other as well. Sure, they have their quibbles, but they are ultimately a very close-knit family. Employees and corporate dogs of today would do well to try to imitate the best qualities of the Berm-Tech employees, and that’s sort of a shame. Oh, and as far as the Netherstone is considered, when the vampires get too far away from it, they can die. That’s why it’s important when the stone goes missing in the film!

I enjoyed this film a lot. It’s funny, features a great cast (including some sweet cameos), and forces us as humans to look at what we should strive to be: better humans. Check out this flick. I think that you’ll enjoy it.