Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 8, 2012

(1984) Written and directed by Alex Cox; Starring: Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez, Sy Richardson, Fox Harris and Tracey Walter; Available on DVD. Rating: **** “A repo man is always intense.” – Bud Maybe it’s my L.A. roots, or my affection for punk rock, or the qu   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 1, 2012

(1976) Directed by Bruno Bozzetto; Written by Bruno Bozzetto, Guido Manuli and Maurizio Nichetti; Starring: Maurizio Nichetti, Maurizio Micheli, Néstor Garay, and Marialuisa Giovannini; Available on DVD Rating: *** ½ Allegro Non Troppo, derived from a classical music term, is roughly   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on July 1, 2012

(1976) Directed by Bruno Bozzetto; Written by Bruno Bozzetto, Guido Manuli and Maurizio Nichetti; Starring: Maurizio Nichetti, Maurizio Micheli, Néstor Garay, and Marialuisa Giovannini; Available on DVD Rating: *** ½ Allegro Non Troppo, derived from a classical music term, is roughly   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 26, 2012

The Quiet Earth (1985) This low-key sci-fi thriller from New Zealand underscores the fact that they just don’t make ‘em like this in Hollywood. The focus is on ideas and relationships rather than overblown action scenes or elaborate set pieces. The beginning is similar to the Twili   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 22, 2012

(1980) Directed by Richard Elfman; Written by Richard Elfman, Matthew Bright, Nick L. Martinson and Nicholas James; Starring: Hervé Villechaize, Susan Tyrrell, Marie-Pascale Elfman, Matthew Bright and Gisele Lindley; Available on Blu-Ray and DVD Rating: *** ½ Saying that Forbidden Zon   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 22, 2012

(1980) Directed by Richard Elfman; Written by Richard Elfman, Matthew Bright, Nick L. Martinson and Nicholas James; Starring: Hervé Villechaize, Susan Tyrrell, Marie-Pascale Elfman, Matthew Bright and Gisele Lindley; Available on Blu-Ray and DVD Rating: *** ½ Saying that Forbidden Zon   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 16, 2012

(1981) Written and directed by John Landis; Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter , Griffin Dunne and John Woodvine; Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Netflix Streaming Rating: **** ½ Several years back I was fortunate enough to attend a horror convention in Los Angeles, and listen to   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 16, 2012

(1981) Written and directed by John Landis; Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter , Griffin Dunne and John Woodvine; Available on Blu-ray, DVD and Netflix Streaming Rating: **** ½ Several years back I was fortunate enough to attend a horror convention in Los Angeles, and listen to   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 11, 2012

"A monster is a distortion of something that has a normal, non-threatening form. The monstrous form is threatening and disturbing because it is beyond the pale of what we consider normality.” – David Cronenberg Some books are not meant to be read cover to cover, but paged through at   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 11, 2012

"A monster is a distortion of something that has a normal, non-threatening form. The monstrous form is threatening and disturbing because it is beyond the pale of what we consider normality.” – David Cronenberg Some books are not meant to be read cover to cover, but paged through at   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 6, 2012

(1984) Directed by Ken Russell; Written by Barry Sandler; Starring: Kathleen Turner, John Laughlin, Anthony Perkins, Bruce Davison and Annie Potts; Available on DVD. Rating: ** ½ My decision to cover Crimes of Passion for The LAMBs in the Director’s Chair spurred some internal   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on June 6, 2012

(1984) Directed by Ken Russell; Written by Barry Sandler; Starring: Kathleen Turner, John Laughlin, Anthony Perkins, Bruce Davison and Annie Potts; Available on DVD. Rating: ** ½ My decision to cover Crimes of Passion for The LAMBs in the Director’s Chair spurred some internal   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 31, 2012

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) It would be a huge understatement to say that this movie, with its creative gore effects, won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Simply stating that Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky is over the top doesn’t begin to do it justice – it goes over...   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 26, 2012

(1999) Directed by Tim Burton; Written by Andrew Kevin Walker; Based on the story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving; Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson and Christopher Walken; Available on DVD and Blu-ray. Rating: **** When I learned that Pa   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 26, 2012

(1999) Directed by Tim Burton; Written by Andrew Kevin Walker; Based on the story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving; Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson and Christopher Walken; Available on DVD and Blu-ray. Rating: **** When I learned that Pa   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 13, 2012

(1927) Directed by Tod Browning; Written by Waldemar Young; Starring: Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry and Joan Crawford; Available on DVD Rating: **** ½ How far would you go to win over the love of your life? The Unknown takes this premise to its logical, awful extreme, thanks to the collaborat   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 7, 2012

(1977) Directed by Elliot Silverstein; Written by Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack and Lane Slate; Starring: James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley and Ronny Cox; Available on DVD and Netflix Streaming. Rating: ** ½ April showers bring May flowers and… another semi-regular feature   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 7, 2012

(1977) Directed by Elliot Silverstein; Written by Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack and Lane Slate; Starring: James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley and Ronny Cox; Available on DVD and Netflix Streaming. Rating: ** ½ April showers bring May flowers and… another semi-regular feature   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 2, 2012

I’m a little late responding to last month’s nomination by Michaël Parent, purveyor of the eclectic and fascinating Le Mot du Cinephiliaque (Be sure to check out his blog, if you haven’t already!), but I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for bestowing this honor to me and my l   read more

Cinematic Catharsis Posted by Barry P. on May 2, 2012

I’m a little late responding to last month’s nomination by Michaël Parent, purveyor of the eclectic and fascinating Le Mot du Cinephiliaque (Be sure to check out his blog, if you haven’t already!), but I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for bestowing this honor to me and my l   read more