Videodrome (1983) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - February 4, 1983

I have taken to referring to Videodrome as Q-Anon: The Movie, not because there is any sort of tangible connection between this 1983 cult classic and the Internet conspiracy theory that radicalized and inflamed people from various walks of life.

No, it was more the thematic similarities between Max Renn's self-destructive search for the information about the mysterious program called Videodrome and how it warped his perception of reality to the point he became a controllable avatar for powerful forces he never came close to understanding.

Videodrome, whether it was consciously intended to be or not, is a film about radicalization and delusion. Of losing one's self in another's constructed and contrived presentation of reality. It has aged beautifully well into the perception melting and distorting world of the Internet and social media.

Long live the New Flesh, same as the Old Flesh.

Lady Death: Dark Alliance - Trading Card #67

Morgana

Morgana was Death's servant before Lady Death. When she and the Diva of Death meet the body toll will be high. Only once can hold the mantle of Death's Avatar.

The Entity (1982) - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - February 3, 1983

The Entity is the other Frank DeFelitta novel I can recall seeing in numerous, if not every, bookstore or spinner rack, back in the day. Just as was the case with Audrey Rose, I have yet to crack it open and give it a read.

And, just as was the case, yet again, with its film adaptation, I have yet to actually see it. I do remember seeing the TV and newspaper ads, as well as reading some lackluster reviews and hearing the indifferent word of mouth around school.

Sidney [J.] Furie, the film's director, has had quite the eclectic career, though. His most infamous film might be Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).

Quentin Tarantino used a snippet from Charles Bernstein's score for the film to excellent effect in Inglourious Basterds (2009).

Fright Flicks - Trading Card #31

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

The Freddy Franchise, as it was quick to become know as, returned to form with this stellar sequel that expanded the mythology in an interesting way that, sad to say, was never adequately explored or exploited in the subsequent entries.

Wes Craven being involved, albeit in a somewhat limited fashion, in the creative process no doubt helped, as did the hiring of Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont. Of all the Freddy sequels, I think Dream Warriors is the best.

The Mummy (1932) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - February 2, 1933

Boris Karloff's second iconic monster for Universal is poised to shamble into San Francisco Bay Area theaters. Although the programmer-style sequels are interchangeable retreads - telling the exact same story over and over, beat-for-beat - the first movie is actually quite good. A superlative and subtle performance by Karloff (The Uncanny) making The Mummy all the better.

Lady Death: Dark Alliance - Trading Card #66

Victoria Noble

Victoria Noble is an unassuming librarian who's just been invited to a parallel universe that exists within NYC. She has yet to learn who is friend or foe and why she, but not others, is able to see another plane of existence.
 

Blackbeard's Ghost (1968) - Newspaper Ad

Oakland Tribune - January 30, 1976

This is one of those movies that I have no memory of, yet still have this feeling that I did see it, at some point. I think Dean Jones plays a down on his luck coach, or teacher, that meets/befriends the ghost of the pirate Blackbeard (Peter Ustinov), which leads to said ghost helping the school team win the "big game" (i.e. by cheating) and thus Jones' character's career. I think...

Fright Flicks - Trading Card #30

Day of the Dead (1985)

This is one of my favorite scenes, of many, from George A. Romero's Day of the Dead. The moment when Bub grabs Logan's arm and Logan flinches, realizing that he might have just walked into his own grave, and what followed got my jaw to drop just the slightest bit. Great movie. One of my all time favorites.

Deep Rising (1998) - Newspaper Ad

San Francisco Examiner - January 29, 1998

Being a monster movie fan, I was, of course, super excited about there being an other sea monster movie opening at a theatre near me. In this case, it was Brenden Concord 14. That is where I saw Deep Rising for the first time.

While my expectations were not throughly met, I was far more satisfied and entertained by the film than my brother, who thought it was terrible.

My primary complaint with the film was that Rob Bottin's monster design was created via CGI, not with practical effects. Granted that the option they went with did give the creature a range of visual motion that would have been a time-consuming struggle to achieve via miniatures or stop motion. But I sure would have loved to see them try.

At least the monster's partially digested leftovers were on step practical effects.

I also love darkly comedic the tagline featured in the trailer: "Women and children first. You're next."

Lady Death: Dark Alliance - Trading Card #65

Vandala

Vandala, Lady Death's valkyrie sister, is resplendent in glory. She's just single-handedly resurrected the shinning [sic] realm. It will be called Newgard.