Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock & the Birth of the Slasher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTJQfFQ40lI Psycho. 1960. Dir.  Alfred Hitchcock. Written by Joseph Stefano; based on the novel by Robert Bloch. Starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, and John McIntire. Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Rated PG. 109 minutes. Horror/Mystery/Thriller ★★★★★ (Film) ★★★★★ (Blu ray release) For my review of the sequel, Psycho II, click here. …

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William Friedkin’s THE HUNTED – A Retrospective Review

A look back at an underrated William Friedkin film.

As I Lay Dying is Stream of Consciousness on Film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-kHDmfEnPU As I Lay Dying. 2013. Dir.  James Franco. Screenplay by Franco & James Rager; based on the novel of the same name by William Faulkner. Starring James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson, Jim Parrack, Ahna O'Reilley, Logan Marshall-Green, Brady Permenter, and Danny McBride. Millenium Films. Rated R. 110 minutes. Drama ★★★★ It's not always necessary …

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The Redemption Song of Anvil: The Story of Anvil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF4H8lB2Y_o Anvil: The Story of Anvil. 2008.  Dir. Sacha Gervasi. Starring Anvil. Abramorama. Unrated. 80 minutes. Documentary - Biography/Music. ★★★★★ Before this film, I had only briefly heard of Anvil by thumbing through old metal records in my search for bands that had escaped mainstream eyes. I never much gave them a listen, and it …

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Psycho III: Norman, Still Crazy After All These Years

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaY-q1P4QWE Psycho III.  1986. Dir. Anthony Perkins. Screenplay by Charles Edward Pogue; based on characters by Robert Bloch. Starring Anthony Perkins, Diana Scarwid, Jeff Fahey, Roberta Maxwell, Hugh Gillin, and Lee Garlington. Universal Pictures. Rated 18+. 93 minutes. Horror/Mystery/Thriller ★★★★ If you haven't yet - read my Blu ray review for Alfred Hitchcock's original 1960 …

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The Drop is a Moody Ride Through the Brooklyn Mob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6nWJ5NDYMU The Drop. 2014. Dir. Michaël R. Roskam. Written by Dennis Lehane; based on his own short story "Animal Rescue". Starring Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini, Matthias Schoenaerts, and John Ortiz. 20th Century Fox. Rated 14A. 106 minutes. Crime/Drama/Thriller ★★★★ The Drop is Michaël R. Roskam's first American film. He's most recently come from directing the Oscar …

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Stretch Tries But Stretches Too Thin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StLOfuVjCQE Stretch. 2014.  Dir. Joe Carnahan. Screenplay by Carnahan from a story by himself, Jerry Corley & Rob Rose. Starring Patrick Wilson, Chris Pine, Brooklyn Decker, Ed Helms, Jessica Alba, and James Badge Dale. Universal Pictures. Rated R. 94 minutes. Action/Comedy/Thriller ★★★ When Stretch opens up, you see Patrick Wilson, playing the titular character Stretch (get it? …

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Trollhunter: Found Footage Fairy Tales

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvwEyHeRSvE Trollhunter. 2010. Directed & Written by André Øvredal. Starring Otto Jespersen, Hans Morten Hansen, Tomas Alf Larsen, Johanna Mørck, Knut Naerum, Robert Stoltenberg, and Glenn Erland Tosterud. Momentum Pictures. Rated PG-13. 103 minutes. Dark Fantasy/Comedy ★★★★ (Film) ★★★★★ (Blu ray release) When you hear the title Trollhunter it isn't easy to imagine what the plot and …

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