Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on February 23, 2020

We’ve had a phenomenal response to our initial announcement for the Vincent Price Blogathon, running April 17th-19th,, hosted by Yours Truly, along with my co-host Gill Jacob from Realweegiemidget Reviews. You can sign up anytime between now and then, but please keep in mind that we are limiti   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on February 20, 2020

It had to happen. You knew it was inevitable. You just didn’t know where it was coming from or when it would occur. Without additional fanfare, I, along with blogging partner extraordinaire Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews, proudly present The Vincent Price Blogathon. We hope to showcase   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on February 16, 2020

(1996) Directed by Peter Jackson; Written by: Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson; Starring: Michael J. Fox, Trini Alvarado, Dee Wallace Stone, Jake Busey, Jeffrey Combs, Chi McBride, Jim Ffye, John Astin and Troy Evans; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: *** “There haven’t been that ma   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on February 9, 2020

(1977) Directed by Richard Loncraine; Written by Dave Humphries; Based on the novel Julia by Peter Straub; Starring: Mia Farrow, Keir Dullea, Tom Conti, Jill Bennett, Robin Gammell and Cathleen Nesbitt; Available on DVD (Import) Rating: **** “I’m happy. Excited about everything bei   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on February 2, 2020

Harakiri (1962) Hanshiro Tsugumo (Tatsuya Nakadai), a disgraced samurai, arrives at the gates of a rival clan, requesting the right to commit ritual suicide. The leaders are skeptical about the veracity of his intentions, based on the actions of former visitors, who made similar claims but were only   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on January 27, 2020

(1936) Written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu; Based on a short story by Yasunari Kawabata; Starring: Ken Uehara, Michiko Kuwano, Mayumi Tsukiji, Kaoru Futaba, Ryuji Ishiyama, Einosuke Naka and Available on DVD Rating: **** “So far this fall, I’ve seen eight girls cross this pas   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on January 15, 2020

(1961) Directed by Ishirô Honda; Written by Shin'ichi Sekizawa; Based on the novel The Luminous Fairies and Mothra, by Shin'ichirô Nakamura, Takehiko Fukunaga and Yoshie Hotta; Starring: Furankî “Frankie” Sakai, Hiroshi Koizumi, Kyôko Kagawa, Yumi Itô, Emi Itô and Jerry Itô; Available on   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on January 8, 2020

(2009) Directed by Mamoru Hosoda; Written by Satoko Okudera: Original story by Mamoru Hosoda; Starring: Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Mitsuki Tanimura, and Sumiko Fuji; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: **** “This particular film revolves around one family, and the issues I thin   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on January 1, 2020

Marwencol (2010) Jeff Malmberg’s brilliant documentary is a fascinating profile of one man’s search for inner peace and meaning amidst chaos. After suffering a horrific beating which left him physically and mentally damaged, Mark Hogancamp took a novel approach on his long road to recove   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 27, 2019

(1975) Directed by Ellen Hovde, Albert Maysles, David Maysles, and Muffie Meyer: Edith ‘Little Edie’ Bouvier Beale, Edith Beale, Brooks Hyers, Jack Helmuth, Lois Wright; Available on DVD Rating: **** “I think that the film is kind of a Rorschach test, where it taps on the var   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 12, 2019

(2008) Written and directed by Erik Nelson; Starring: Harlan Ellison, Robin Williams, Neil Gaiman, Carol Cooper, Ronald D. Moore, Carol Cooper, Dan Simmons, Josh Olson, Susan Anne Toth; Available on DVD Rating: ***½ “When you’ve been made an outsider, you are always angry. Yo   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on December 1, 2019

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) The wealthy and powerful Martha Ivers (now O’Neil) (Barbara Stanwyck) is married to meek district attorney hopeful Walter O’Neil (Kirk Douglas in his film debut). Both individuals harbor a dark secret about her past, which is brought to light when   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on November 30, 2019

(1949) Directed by Rudolph Maté; Written by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene; Starring: Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler, Beverly Garland, Lynn Baggett and William Ching; Available on DVD, Kanopy and Amazon Prime Rating: **** “You knew who I was when I came in here today, but   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on November 24, 2019

Time has a nasty habit of getting away before you know it. Way back in January, I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by the hardest working blogger on the web, Gill Jacob of Realweegie MidgetReviews. Fast forward several months to September, and I was nominated for the LiebsterAward...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 31, 2019

(1963) Directed by Don Sharp; Written by John Elder (aka: Anthony Hinds); Starring: Clifford Evans, Edward de Souza, Noel Willman, Jennifer Daniel, Barry Warren, Jacquie Wallis and Isobel Black; Available on Blu-Ray and DVD Rating: **** “I decided straight away he was going to be   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 27, 2019

The Evil (1978) Psychologist C.J. Arnold and his wife Caroline (Richard Crenna and Joanna Pettet) begin renovations on a decrepit antebellum mansion with the help of some volunteers. Before long, it becomes clear that the house wants them dead or at least prisoners. Meanwhile, a spectral visitor app   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 20, 2019

(1972) Directed by Eugenio Martín; Written by Arnaud d'Usseau and Julian Zimet; Starring: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Alberto de Mendoza, Silvia Tortosa, Julio Peña and Telly Savalas. Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: **** “They say that this is a cult picture – I th   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 10, 2019

“I am a man of fifty-two years that is still dealing with his first ten years of existence. I am trying to recuperate from those first ten years.” – Guillermo del Toro (from 2016 interview by Keith McDonald and Roger Clark, Guillermo del Toro, At Home with Monsters) So many   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on October 3, 2019

(1971) Directed by Curtis Harrington; Written by Robert Blees and Jimmy Sangster; Original screen story by David D. Osborn; Starring: Shelley Winters, Mark Lester, Chloe Franks, Ralph Richardson, Lionel Jeffries and Michael Gothard; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: *** “Isn’t   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on September 29, 2019

They Live by Night (1948) Director Nicholas Ray’s debut feature is a gripping film noir about doomed love between Bowie (Farley Granger), an escaped convict, and Keechie (Cathy O'Donnell), an inexperienced young woman who wants to escape her father (Will Wright) and her humdrum life. Granger i   read more