Author Archives: robchristopher

3 things about William Castle’s HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL

Posted on October 14, 2020

House on Haunted Hill [1959] 1. “Don’t you see a little touch of greed around the mouth and eyes?” 2. Blood on the ceiling. 3. Marionette contraption.

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3 things about Gary Sherman’s DEATH LINE

Posted on October 13, 2020

Death Line [1972] 1. Fixation on teabags. 2. Handy oil dispenser. 3. Biting off a rat’s head. A few bravura sequences (opening title, lengthy tracking shot of the hidden lair) but this mostly plods along.

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3 things about Paul Thomas Anderson’s THERE WILL BE BLOOD

Posted on October 12, 2020

There Will Be Blood [2007] 1. “I should have known that under this, all these years you’ve been building your hate for me piece by piece.” 2. A plate of cold spare ribs. 3. Filthy will oil and dirt, lying … Continue reading →

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3 things about Rian Johnson’s KNIVES OUT

Posted on October 10, 2020

Knives Out [2019] 1. Dust bunnies on the floor of the abandoned laundromat. 2. Fruit magnet scrambling the videotape. 3. Jolly sailor at the foot of the staircase; an allusion to Sleuth? 3 other things.

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3 things about Harry Kümel’s DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS

Posted on October 9, 2020

Daughters of Darkness [1971] 1. “She’s leaving tomorrow.” “By that time, many things can happen.” 2. Nails painted blood red. 3. Shiny black raincoat as cape, shroud.

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3 things about John ‘Bud’ Cardos’s KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS

Posted on October 8, 2020

Kingdom of the Spiders [1977] 1. Nervous horses. 2. Are they swingers? 3. Coffee time.

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3 things about George A. Romero’s SEASON OF THE WITCH

Posted on October 7, 2020

Season of the Witch [1972] 1. Snapping tree branches slashing her face. Somehow the opening scene reminds me of the opening scene of Belle de Jour. 2. Momentary cat. Just a stray that wandered in? 3. New, towering hairdo.

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3 things about Gordon Douglas’s THEM!

Posted on October 5, 2020

Them! [1954] 1. Their first view is of her legs. 2. Flame shadows. 3. Numbered drain pipes. 3 other things.

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3 things about Alfonso Cuarón’s HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

Posted on October 4, 2020

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [2004] 1. Chorus with toads. 2. “You may be young in years but the heart that beats beneath your bosom is as shriveled as an old maid’s, your soul as dry as the … Continue reading →

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3 things about Jeannot Szwarc’s BUG

Posted on October 3, 2020

Bug [1975] 1. About five minutes after telling her he’ll wait for her outside, he gets in the truck and leaves. 2. Eureka moment triggered by opening a cold can of Schlitz. 3. Clunky homage to The Birds.

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