The Guest is like a Young Terminator in Post-Blackwater Era

The Guest. 2014. Directed by Adam Wingard. Written by Simon Barrett. Starring Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer, Sheila Kelley, Leland Orser, and Lance Reddick. Picturehouse. Rated 14A. 99 minutes. Action/Mystery/Thriller ★★★★★ To begin, I've been a fan of Adam Wingard a long while. I think the first time I actually saw one of his …

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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.

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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Feed the Gods Leaves Everyone Hungry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSalMwfHn_I Feed the Gods. 2014. Dir. Braden Croft. Starring Shawn Roberts, Emily Tennant, Britt Irvin, Tyler Johnston, and Aleks Paunovic. Compound B. Unrated. 84 minutes. Horror/Thriller ★1/2 There are times I'll admit I am fooled by an interesting title. When I first heard of Feed the Gods I've got to say, I was absolutely hooked. Just …

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Nightcrawler & the Vulture-like News Media

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1uP_8VJkDQ Nightcrawler. 2014. Directed & Written by Dan Gilroy. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, and Riz Ahmed. Elevation Pictures. Rated 14A. 117 minutes. Crime/Thriller ★★★★★ Dan Gilroy's Nightcrawler is a bit of an unusual film. First off, Gilroy has never directed a feature film, or anything else to my knowledge. His start came with screenwriting. …

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