Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 13, 2024

(1968) Directed by Mario Bava; Written by Dino Maiuri, Brian Degas, Tudor Gates and Mario Bava; Based on the comic by Angela Giussani and Luciana Giussani; Starring: John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michel Piccoli, Adolfo Celi, Claudio Gora and Terry Thomas; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: ***   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 10, 2024

Well, dear readers and blogging friends, we’ve reached the end of the John Saxon Blogathon. I’d like to thank everyone who graciously donated their valuable blogging time to making this event a success. Whether this is your first blogathon with us or your 10th (Can you believe this was   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 8, 2024

Whew! It’s already Day 3 of the John Saxon Blogathon, hosted by Yours Truly and Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews. I don’t know about you, but these past three days have flown by too quickly. Today’s batch is the biggest yet, with seven new posts! Note: Since Gill and I...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 8, 2024

(1982) Written and directed by Dario Argento; Starring: Anthony Franciosa, Giuliano Gemma, John Saxon, Christian Borromeo, Mirella D’Angelo and Daria Nicolodi; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: ***½ This post is part of the John Saxon Blogathon, hosted by Gill Jacob from Realweegiemi   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 7, 2024

Welcome to Day Two of the John Saxon Blogathon, hosted by Yours Truly and Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews! We have another fine batch of reviews today, including two (count ‘em, two!) double features, B-movie favorites, and more. If your post isn’t quite ready (like, ahem, mine   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 6, 2024

Welcome to Day One of the John Saxon Blogathon! When my excellent co-host Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews suggested Mr. Saxon as the subject of a blogathon, my ears perked up, since he’s been on my radar for years as one of my favorite character actors. Whether he’s the hero...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on November 30, 2024

Dig! (2004) Ondi Timoner’s warts and all documentary chronicles the chaotic friendship which became a rivalry between Courtney Taylor-Taylor from The Dandy Warhols and Anton Newcombe from The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Both bands emerged in the late ‘90s alternative music scene with promi   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on November 26, 2024

(2007) Written and Directed by Werner Herzog; Starring: Werner Herzog, Scott Rowland, Stefan Pashov, Doug MacAyeal, Ryan Andrew Evans, Kevin Emery, Olav T. Oftedal and Regina Eisert; Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Rating: **** “…Every single mechanic – highly professional. Ever   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on November 17, 2024

(1999) Written and directed by James Marsh; Based on the book, Wisconsin Death Trip, by Michael Lesy; Starring: Ian Holm, Jeffrey Golden and Jo Vukelich; Available on DVD Rating: **** “…I was looking for stories that cut across 100 years and resonated with contemporary anxieties abou   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 31, 2024

Baby Blood (1990) When Yanka (Emmanuelle Escourrou) discovers she’s pregnant, she leaves her circus life and abusive boyfriend behind. Her troubles have only begun, however, when her body begins to undergo changes. Yanka moves from one abuser to another when the developing fetus begins speaki   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 26, 2024

“…if one is not blinded by a sense of indispensability, one must take it that we, like the other lords of creation before us, will one day be replaced. There are two ways in which it can happen: either through ourselves, by our self-destruction, or by the incursion of some...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 10, 2024

Yours Truly and Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews proudly present the John Saxon Blogathon! In the world of character actors, there are a select few who stand out. Mr. Saxon (born Carmine Orrico in 1936) left an indelible mark on cinema and television, commanding attention whenever he was onscreen   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 8, 2024

(1960) Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey; Written by George Baxt; Story by Milton Subotsky; Starring: Patricia Jessel, Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee, Venetia Stevenson, Tom Naylor, Valentine Dyall, Betta St. John and Norman MacOwan; Available on Blu-ray and DVD. Rating: ***½ “People ha   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 2, 2024

Within Our Gates (1920) Writer/director Oscar Micheaux brought to light racial inequities and concerns that were overlooked by mainstream Hollywood. One prime example, Within Our Gates exposes the myriad ways racism continued to shape and define American society in the early 20th century. Sylvia Lan   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on September 28, 2024

(1921) Directed by Victor Sjöström; Written by Victor Sjöström; Based on the novel by Selma Lagerlöf; Starring: Victor Sjöström, Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg, Astrid Holm and Concordia Selander; Available on Blu ray and DVD Rating: ****½ stars “No living soul rides in that carriag   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on September 12, 2024

(1924) Directed by Paul Leni; Written by Henrik Galeen; Starring: Emil Jannings, Conrad Veidt, Werner Krauss, William Dieterle and Olga Belajoff; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: ***½ “Ivan was a blood-crazed monster on a throne, who turned cities into cemeteries. His crown was a   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on September 1, 2024

(1981) Directed by: Gary Sherman; Written by Ronald Shusett and Dan O’Bannon; Story by Jeff Millar and Alex Stern; Based on the novel by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro; Starring: James Farentino, Melody Anderson, Jack Albertson, Dennis Redfield, Nancy Locke, Lisa Blount and Robert Englund; Available on   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on August 24, 2024

Kyrsyä -Tuftland (2017) After a devastating breakup with her boyfriend, textile manufacturing student Irina (Veera W. Vilo) looks for summer work to pay her bills and clear her head. She answers an ad to work in the backwoods Finnish village of Kyrsyä, where she’ll gain experience making hand-   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on August 8, 2024

(1975) Directed by Robert Fuest; Written by Gabe Essoe, James Ashton, and Gerald Hopman; Starring: Ernest Borgnine, Eddie Albert, Ida Lupino, William Shatner, Keenan Wynn, Tom Skerritt, Joan Prather and John Travolta; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: **½ “This book was owned by C   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 27, 2024

The Godsend (1980) A strange pregnant woman (Angela Pleasence) shows up at a family’s farmhouse. Before they can get her home, she gives birth and subsequently disappears without a trace. Kate and Alan Marlowe (Cyd Hayman and Malcolm Stoddard) raise the baby, named “Bonnie,” as the   read more