*contains spoilers Phantoms (1998) is based on the Dean Koontz (1945-) novel which he also adapted to the screen. It remains his only true cinematic screenplay which is a shame because it’s a very good one. It begins with Dr Jennifer Pailey (Joanna Going 1963-) taking her sister Lisa (Rose McGowan 1973-) to her small-town…
*contains spoilers Director and screenwriter Larry Cohen (1941-2019) died on March 23 of undisclosed causes. He left a small trove of low-budget B-grade material. Notable are the It’s Alive trilogy (1074, 1978 and 1987) about mutant babies. Those movies play on any expecting parent’s fears as, in the original movie It’s Alive (1974), a mother…
*contains spoilers The original Pet Sematary (1989) is remembered by some as quite frightening to watch at an early age. It’s based on Stephen King’s 1983 novel and the screenplay is actually by King himself. He is an author so prolific – I just don’t know how he does it! I guess he’s no Hemingway…
*contains spoilers The horror movie Us (2019) could also stand for U.S. or United States because the phenomenon which unfolds in the film seems to be only happening in that country. That is not to say that it isn’t happening elsewhere but the events seem to be homegrown. As the beginning of the movie declares:…
*contains spoilers Back in the late 70s as a twelve-year-old (yes, I am old and fat and bald and weight 300 pounds!) in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, the Fair Lady theatre was on the main drag in Hindley Street (Salman Rushdie once famously quoted Hindley St ran with blood or something and I…
Cult Film Alley 