Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on August 2, 2016

(1977) Directed by George Butler & Robert Fiore; Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Matty Ferrigno, Mike Katz and Franco Columbu; Available on: Blu-ray, DVD and Netflix Streaming Rating: **** Note: This review originally appeared in 2011, but was subsequently removed fo   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 30, 2016

(1964) Directed by William Castle; Written by Robert Bloch; Starring: Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, Leif Erickson, John Anthony Hayes and George Kennedy Available on DVD Rating: ***½ “Today I saw a different Lucy. A woman who’s trying to look and act as if those 2   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 25, 2016

Amsterdamned (1988) This might be writer/director Dick Maas’ masterpiece. In this case, “masterpiece” is a relative term, but who cares when you’re having this much fun. Not unlike his earlier film The Lift, the premise is suitably ridiculous, but Maas runs with it, and takes   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 17, 2016

(1988) Directed by George Sluizer; Written by Tim Krabbé and George Sluizer; Based on the novel The Golden Egg, by Tim Krabbé; Starring: Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Gene Bervoets, Johanna ter Steege and Gwen Eckhaus; Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Hulu Rating: 4 ½ stars “There   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 5, 2016

(1983) Written and directed by Dick Maas; Starring: Huub Stapel, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Josine van Dalsum; Available on DVD (Region 2) Rating: *** “A lift doesn’t move on its own – or does it?” – Police Inspector (Siem Vroom) The ‘70s and   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 27, 2016

The King of Comedy (1983) Martin Scorsese’s ahead-of-its-time satire about the dark side of fame didn’t make much of a splash when it premiered, but now it seems more relevant than ever. Scorsese regular Robert De Niro stars as Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring 30-something comedian who lives w   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 20, 2016

We’ve come to the end of the line for this ‘ol blogathon folks, but not before we’ve been attacked by all varieties of creatures great and small, and felt the angry, unforgiving wrath of Mother Nature at her most petulant. It’s been a great honor to host the Nature&   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 19, 2016

Just when you thought it was safe to return to the blogosphere, the Nature’s Fury Blogathon returns for another round of tremendous posts covering mutant beasts and environmental cataclysm. In addition to today’s links, be sure to visit the Day 1Recap, and stay tuned for Day 3!   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 18, 2016

After months of planning, days of fretting and untold cups of coffee, the Nature’s Fury Blogathon has finally arrived. I have a bumper crop of reviews for the first day of this three-day celebration of cinematic depictions of disaster and animal-induced mayhem. It’s only the fi   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 18, 2016

(1978) Directed by Irwin Allen; Written by Stirling Silliphant; Based on the novel by Arthur Herzog III; Starring: Michael Caine, Katharine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlin, Olivia De Havilland, Ben Johnson, Lee Grant, Patty Duke Astin, Slim Pickens, Fred MacMurray and Henry Fonda; Availab   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 9, 2016

“Freedom of choice Is what you got Freedom from choice Is what you want” – Devo Call me a backwards curmudgeon, but I already miss physical media. While DVD and Blu-ray sales have continued to decline (and the outlook of 4K Blu-ray uncertain), streaming has become   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 31, 2016

I Walked with a Zombie (1943) Directed by the master of atmosphere, Jacques Tourneur, I Walked with a Zombie is a compelling, beautifully shot mood piece. Nurse Betsy Connell (Frances Dee) travels to the West Indies to care for a woman in a semi-catatonic state. The woman’s moribund husband, P   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 28, 2016

“Do you remember the voodoo rites? Faust, and all those who make pacts with the evil spirit do so with blood. The knights performed human sacrifices, consummating the offering with a virgin’s blood. Now they’ve awakened from the beyond, and without eyes to see, they find their vict   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 22, 2016

(1959) Written and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr.; Starring: Bela Lugosi, Vampira, Tor Johnson, Gregory Walcott, Mona McKinnon, Duke Moore and Criswell Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Hulu Rating: *** “If you want to know me, see Glen or Glenda. That’s me, that’s my s   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 17, 2016

(1985) Written and directed by Tom Holland; Starring: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall and Stephen Geoffreys; Available on DVD and Blu-Ray. Rating: **** “I have just been fired because nobody wants to see vampire killers anymore or vampires either. Appare   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 12, 2016

The Nature’s Fury Blogathon is little more than a month away, and response has been tremendous, with more than 60 participants signed up so far! I’m truly impressed by the variety of titles that are being covered, encompassing several eras of cinema, and can’t wait to read everyone   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 4, 2016

(1988) Directed by Wes Craven; Written by Richard Maxwell and Adam Rodman; Based on the book by Wade Davis: Starring: Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, Zakes Mokae, Paul Winfield and Michael Gough; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: *** “Be careful, my friend. In Haiti there are secre   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 30, 2016

Brick (2005) Writer/director Rian Johnson has masterfully distilled the tropes from classic noir to tell a tale of drugs, murder and greed, set around a high school milieu. Despite the modern setting, it could have easily taken place in the ‘40s, with a few minor tweaks. Joseph Gordon-Levitt c   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 26, 2016

(1964) Directed by Mario Bava; Written by Marcello Fondato, Giuseppe Barilla and Mario Bava; Starring: Cameron Mitchell, Eva Bartok, Thomas Reiner, Ariana Gorini and Mary Arden; Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: ***½ “He (Mario Bava) is a true renaissance man. He was one   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on April 16, 2016

(1989) Directed by: Carl Schenkel; Written by Hampton Fancher; Based on the novel Finding Maubee by A.H.Z. Carr; Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Townsend, M. Emmet Walsh, Sheryl Lee Ralph, James Fox and Mimi Rogers Available on Blu-ray and DVD Rating: ****½ “So   read more