Category: Trivia

“Navajo Joe” (1966) starring Burt Reynolds / Z-View

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Navajo Joe (1966)

Director: Sergio Corbucci

Screenplay: Piero Regnoli, Fernando di Leo; story by Ugo Pirro

Stars: Burt Reynolds, Aldo Sambrell, Fernando Rey.

Tagline: There’s no escaping his one-man vendetta of unrelenting violence!

The Plot…

When a gang of outlaws murders his entire village for scalps, Navajo Joe vows revenge.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

When Burt Reynolds was offered the chance to go to Italy to film Navajo Joe, he reached out to Clint Eastwood.  Eastwood had achieved fame for A Fistful of Dollars and A Few Dollars More.  Eastwood said it was a good experience and raved about director Sergio Leone.  Reynolds thought Navajo Joe was going to be directed by Sergio Leone.  He was mistaken.  The director was Sergio Corbucci.  Reynolds tried to walk away, but the contracts had already been signed.

To make matters worse, Corbucci thought Marlon Brando was going to be the star of the film.  Needless to say, Reynolds and Corbucci didn’t get along.  Making the film wasn’t a fun experience for either man.

Burt Reynolds said in interviews it was the worst professional experience he ever had and “the film was only shown in prisons and airplanes because the audience couldn’t leave.”

Who am I to argue with Burt Reynolds.

Navajo Joe (1966) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Naked Ambition” (2023) starring Bunny Yeager / Z-View!

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Naked Ambition (2023)

Director: Dennis Scholl, Kareem Tabsch

Writer: Dennis Scholl

Stars: Bunny Yeager, Dita Von Teese, Larry King.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Bunny Yeager started her career as a model.  She transitioned to behind the camera and became one of the most popular cheesecake photographers working.  Bunny’s work with Bettie Page sent both into the popular culture stratosphere.

This is her story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Bunny was one of the first photographers for Playboy and even discovered Playboy’s first Playmate of the Year.  Bunny then went on to have her photos in more mainstream magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Redbook to name a few.  Bunny’s photos of Ursula Andress exiting the water on the beach for the James Bond film Dr. No are perhaps her most famous shots.

When magazines became more graphic, Bunny refused to follow the trend and her photos became less in demand.  Bunny Yeager’s photos saw a resurgence of popularity in the 1990s.

Naked Ambition (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.

Mike Mignola’s “Blade 2” Storyboards!

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Blade 2 is my favorite movie of the Blade franchise.  It’s also one of my favorite horror movies.  Most folks know it was directed by Guillermo del Toro.  Not as many realize that del Toro’s artist on the storyboards was none other than Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola.  Below are some examples.

Guillermo del Toro and Mike Mignola would reteam two years later for the movie adaptation of Hellboy.

A book of Mignola’s storyboards would be a welcome addition to my book shelf.

Click on the photos to see biggie-versions or each.  If you want to see even bigger versions check out our source for this post — Marco Foderà.

“Tura!” (2024) starring Tura Santana / Z-View

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Tura! (2024)

Director: Cody Jarrett

Screenplay: Cody Jarrett

Stars: Tura Satana, John Waters, Margaret Cho, Dita Von Teese and Pamela Des Barres.

Tagline: How One Woman’s Quest for Revenge Changed Hollywood and the World Forever

The Plot…

Tura Satana, the actress best known for her role as Varla in the cult classic Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! had a life that is hard to believe.  Raped as a child, Tura learned the martial arts in order to get revenge on the men who abused her since justice was denied in the courts.  As an adult, Tura got revenge on each individual who had assaulted her.

But that would come later in life.

At fifteen, Tura ran away to California.  She lied about her age and began working as a burlesque dancer.  Soon Tura was making big money as a stripper.  This led to a friendship with Harold Lloyd (yes, THAT Harold Lloyd of silent movie fame).  Tura became a nude model for Lloyd (and others).

Then came her acting career with roles in Irma la Douce staring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine and Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed? starring Dean Martin and Elizabeth Montgomery.  Television roles on Burke’s Law and The Man from UNCLE followed.  Then came Tura’s breakout role in Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.  After that Tura appeared in just four more films and one television appearance before retiring from acting.

After the filming of The Doll Squad, Tura was shot by a former lover.  Her acting career was finished… for now.  Over the years Tura earned a living working in a hospital and later as a dispatcher.  When Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! gained new popularity as a cult hit, Tura Santana’s popularity also surged.  She began to occassionally act and make appearances at fan conventions.

Tura is her life story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

It’s hard to believe Tura’s life story… even the parts that are easily proven.  So we’ll go with the famous saying, (and I’m parphrasing), “When the legend is better than the truth, go with the legend.”

Tura! (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Assault on VA-33” (2021) starring Sean Patrick Flabery with Mark Dacascos and Michael Jai White / Z-View

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Assault on VA-33 (2021)

Director: Christopher Ray

Screenplay: Scott Thomas Reynolds

Stars: Sean Patrick Flanery, Michael Jai White, Mark Dacascos, Weston Cage, Gina Holden, Abigail Hawk, Brittany Underwood, Rachel True, Max Adler and Rob Van Dam.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Jason Hill plans to have lunch with his wife at the Veteran’s Affairs hospital where she works.  After lunch Jason is going to take his daughter to soccer practice.  But that all changes when terrorists take over the hospital.  They’re after a General being treated there.  With the General and several staff as hostages, the terrorists have the upper hand.

Jason manages to not get caught during the takeover.  When local police believe his call for help to be a prank, Jason realizes it’s up to him to save the day.

I think Jason’s daughter may be late to practice.  Jason to the rescue – STAT.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sean Patrick Flanery and Gina Holden play husband and wife in Assault on VA-33.  They also played a married couple in Saw 3D.

Pro wrestler Rob Van Dam plays the terrorist who stays in the van.  He is never shown being killed or driving away.  His character just disappears.  It would have been funny if after the credits rolled, at the very end they should him still sitting in the van.

Assault on VA-33 (2021) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Dylan Dog: Dead of Night” (2010) starring Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, Anita Briem, Peter Stormare, and Taye Diggs / Z-View

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Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010)

Director: Kevin Munroe

Screenplay: Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer; based on Dylan Dog by Tiziano Sclavi

Stars: Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, Anita Briem, Peter Stormare, Taye Diggs, Mitchell Whitfield, Laura Spencer, Laura Spencer, Marco St. John, Kyle Clements and Kurt Angle.

Tagline: Living investigator. Undead clients. Zombie partner.

The Plot…

Dylan Dog at one time fought the things that go bump in the night.  He gave it up when his wife was killed by vampires.  Since then Dylan has worked as a private eye on normal cases.

That all changes when Elizabeth Ryan comes to Dylan for help.  Her father was killed by something strange.  Now Dylan is back… and the case will bring him into contact with vampires, werewolves, zombies and something worse.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

One of the vampires is named Sclavi. Tiziano Sclavi created Dylan Dog.

At one point a character calls Dylan Dog, “Superman”.  Brandon Routh who plays Dylan Dog of course played Superman in an earlier film.

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night leans a bit more into comedy than I’d prefer.  Even still I would have liked to have seen a sequel.

Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010)  rates 2 of 5 stars.

RIP: Neil Sedaka

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Neil Sedaka died yesterday at the age of 86.  No cause of death was given.

Neil Sedaka was a singer and songwriter who graduated high school at the age of 17 and began his professional career in music the following year.  Although Neil Sedaka was a founding member of The Tokens, he soon departed for a solo career.  Hits quickly followed.  From 1958 to 1963, Mr. Sedaka charted 14 top 30 hits.  During this same period, Neil Sedaka wrote or co-wrote hits recorded by other artists including Connie Francis, The Everly Brothers, The Monkees, The 5th Dimension and Tom Jones just to name a few.

Although Mr. Sedaka’s singing career in the US dipped in the mid 60s, he continued to have a strong career as a songwriter and singer overseas.  In 1975, Neil Sedaka returned to the US charts with the #1 hit, “Laughter in the Rain”.

Although Mr. Sedaka officially retired from songwriting in 2022 and sold his music catalog in 2024, he continued to make live appearances and perform on social media with his last outing taking place in December 2025.

Some of Mr. Sedaka’s greatest hits include: Breaking Up is Hard to Do; Bad Blood; Laughter in the Rain and Calendar Girl.

Hits written or co-written for others include: “Love Will Keep Us Together” – Captain & Tennille; “Ring Ring” by ABBA; “Where the Boys Are” – Connie Francis; “Lonely Night (Angel Face)” – Captain & Tennille; “Crying in the Rain” – The Everly Brothers; “Workin’ on a Groovy Thing” – The 5th Dimension; “Puppet Man” – Tom Jones; “When Love Comes Knockin’ (At Your Door)” – The Monkees; “The Girl I Left Behind Me” – The Monkees; “I Go Ape” – The Monkees and “Rainy Jane” – Davy Jones.

What an amazing career!  Neil Sedaka was a wonderful singer and songwriter.  His performances always left me smiling.

Out thoughts and prayers go out to Neil Sedaka’s family, friends and fans.

“Street Smart” (1987) starring Christopher Reeve, Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers and Morgan Freeman / Z-View

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Street Smart (1987)

Director: Jerry Schatzberg

Screenplay: David Freeman

Stars: Christopher Reeve, Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers, Jay Patterson, Andre Gregory, Anna Maria Horsford, Erik King, Michael J. Reynolds, Rick Aviles, Leslie Carlson and Morgan Freeman.

Tagline: A reporter is using the streets to get ahead. A killer is using the reporter to get even.

The Plot…

Jonathan Fisher, is a writer for a New York magazine.  Fisher has been on a dry spell, unable to get any of his story pitches approved.  Then Fisher comes up with the idea to profile a NY City pimp’s life on the street.  The editor approves the story, but needs it in just a few days.

Fisher, under pressure and unable to meet a real pimp, fabricates the story.  He creates a pimp persona he calls Tyrone.  Surprisingly, the story goes viral.  Fisher becomes a media sensation.

Leo “Fast Black” Smalls, Jr. is an actual New York City pimp.  Many who know Smalls think the article was written about him.  Fischer’s article accidentally got many things right about Smalls. Despite Fischer’s denials, everyone thinks Smalls was the pimp the article portrayed.

Then Smalls is arrested for killing a man.  Smalls’ lawyer gets the bright idea to us Jonathan Fisher as his albi.  If he was meeting with Fischer about the article, he couldn’t have been where the murder took place.  Suddenly, Fisher is being pressured by his editor, the police and Smalls.

The police want Fisher’s notes created for the article from interviews with the pimp.  Of course there are none.  If Fisher is proved to be a fraud, his career is over.  Smalls wants Fisher to lie for his aliby.  If Fisher refuses, Smalls will make sure Fisher’s life is over.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you only know Christopher Reeve as Superman, check out Street Smart.  Reeves got financing for the film by agreeing to star in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Morgan Freeman earned well deserved nominations for an Oscar®, a Golden Globe and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role as  Leo “Fast Black” Smalls, Jr.

Reeve and Kathy Baker also deserve kudos for the performances.

Miles Davis performs the movie’s score.

Street Smart (1987) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Albino Alligator” (1996) directed by Kevin Spacey; starring Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise, William Fichtner, Viggo Mortensen, John Spencer, Skeet Ulrich, M. Emmet Walsh and Joe Mantegna / Z-View

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Albino Alligator (1996)

Director: Kevin Spacey

Screenplay: Christian Forte

Stars: Matt Dillon, Faye Dunaway, Gary Sinise, William Fichtner, Viggo Mortensen, John Spencer, Skeet Ulrich, M. Emmet Walsh, Joe Mantegna, Melinda McGraw, Doug Spinuzza, Spencer Garrett, Enrico Colantoni and Frankie Faison

Tagline: They Planned The Perfect Crime… Until It All Went Perfectly Wrong!

The Plot…

When their robbery goes sideways, brothers Dova and Milo and their sociopathic partner Law find themselves on the run from the cops.  They’ve already killed three people.  One of them a cop. Plus Milo is badly wounded.

It’s well past midnight and the streets are empty.  If they keep running, they know they’ll get caught.  So the three take refuge in a bar that’s closing.  Inside they find five people: Janet, her boss Dino, an older man at the bar, a young man at the pool table and business man alone at one of the tables.

Dova and Law pull their guns and order everyone to stay seated.  Law is ready to blast away.  It won’t take much to send him over the edge.  Dova just wants to patch his brother up and hide out until they can slip away in the morning.

What nobody inside knows is the FBI has the bar staked out.  It is surrounded by agents ready to close in.

Why was the FBI already there?  What will happen if they charge in?

It’s late.  Last call before the action starts…

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Albino Alligator showcases Kevin Spacey’s debut as a director.  It also features my favorite Faye Dunaway performance.

Albino Alligator (1996) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“The In-Laws” (1979) starring Peter Falk & Alan Arkin / Z-View

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The In-Laws (1979)

Director: Arthur Hiller

Screenplay: Andrew Bergman

Stars: Peter Falk, Alan Arkin, Richard Libertini, Nancy Dussault, Penny Peyser, Arlene Golonka, Paul L. Smith, Carmine Caridi, James Hong, David Paymer and Ed Begley Jr.

Tagline: While the Father of the Bride was extracting a molar from Mrs. Cohen, the Father of the Groom was extracting $20 Million from the U.S. Mint. And this was only the beginning.

The Plot…

Dr. Sheldon “Shelley” Kornpett’s daughter is about to marry the son of Vince Ricardo.  Shelley likes his future daughter-in-law and her mother.  He has concerns about Vince though.  Shelley thinks Vince tells tall tales (to put it politely) and might even be crazy.

So when Vince comes to Shelley’s office and asks a favor, he’s hesitant.  Vince promises it will just take five minutes.  Not wanting to create waves Shelley agrees.  Soon he’s involved with money stolen from the US Mint, and chased by crooks and the CIA.  Oh, and the wedding is tomorrow.

Serpentine!  Serpentine!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The In-Laws showcases David Paymer’s feature film debut.

Fran Drescher, who gained fame in The Nanny, was originally cast as the daughter but was fired shortly after filming began.  The part was recast with Penny Peyser.

I saw The In-Laws during it’s original theatrical run and loved it.  I re-watched it recently and am happy to say it holds up.

The In-Laws (1979) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Eichmann” (2007) / Z-View

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Eichmann (2007)

Director: Robert Young

Screenplay: Snoo Wilson

Stars: Thomas Kretschmann, Troy Garity, Stephen Fry.

Tagline: Husband. Father. Soldier. Monster.

The Plot…

Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Adolf Eichmann was captured.  Although a high  official in the Nazi Party, an officer of the SS and one of the major organisers of Hitler’s Final Solution, Eichmann claimed to have no knowledge of the holocaust and was just as a small, insignificant bureaucrat—a “little cog in the machinery” who followed orders.

Captain Avner Less, an Israeli police officer, was assigned to interview Eichmann in an effort to get him to self-incriminate.  It will be a battle of wills to get justice served.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Prior to his capture Adolf Eichmann was the most wanted Nazi war criminal in the world. CIA documents released in 2006, showed that U.S. and West German intelligence knew that Eichmann was alive in Argentina, but fearing he might expose former comrades who had been useful to the CIA and the German government, did nothing.

Eichmann (2007) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Battling Butler” (1926) directed by and starring Buster Keaton / Z-View

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Battling Butler (1926)

Director: Buster Keaton

Screenplay: Al Boasberg, Lex Neal, Charles Smith, Paul Gerard Smith; based on Battling Butler
(a 1922 play) by Stanley Brightman, Austin Melford

Stars: Buster Keaton, Sally O’Neil, Walter James.

Tagline: KEATON wins the laugh championship of the world in this greatest of all screen comedies! A love story. A prize-fight story! A knockout – and how! You can’t stop laughing!

The Plot…

Alfred Butler has grown up with all the luxuries a wealthy family can provide.  Alfred, although a young man, even has a personal assistant.  Alfred is a small, gentle young man who his father believes needs to toughen up.  So Alfred and his valet decide to go roughing it in the woods.

While camping Alfred meets a poor young woman who lives with her family in a mountain shack.  It’s love at first sight.  The woman’s brothers are tough mountain men.  In order to impress them, Alfred’s valet says that Alfred is a famous fighter called ‘Battling Butler”.  Alfred reluctantly goes along when it becomes clear that the family is impressed.

Alfred never dreamed he’d really have to enter the ring against the real “Battling Butler”.

Let’s get ready to rumble!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Battling Butler was released the same year as Keaton’s classic The General.  Ironically, The General, during it’s initial release, was considered a huge flop, while Battling Butler became Keaton’s second biggest hit.

Battling Butler (1926) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“His & Hers” (2026) starring Tessa Thompson & Jon Bernthal / Z-View

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His & Hers (2026)

Developed by: William Oldroyd; based on HIS & HERS by Alice Feeney

Directors:

  • William Oldroyd (Eps. 1-2; 6)
  • Anja Marquardt (Eps. 3-5)

Teleplay:

  • William Oldroyd (Eps. 1; 3)
  • Tori Sampson (Ep. 2)
  • Erika Sheffer (Ep. 3)
  • Dee Johnson (Ep. 4)
  • William Oldroyd and Tori Sampson  (Ep. 5)
  • Bill Dubuque (Ep. 6)

Stars: Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Marin Ireland, Sunita Mani, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Crystal Fox, Kristen Maxwell, Leah Merritt, Tiffany Ho, Isabelle Kusman, Dave Maldonado and Chris Bauer.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

A murder brings television news reporter Anna Andrews back to her small hometown.  Her estranged husband, Jack is a Detective working the case.  Things take a turn when Anna finds evidence that Jack may have been the killer.  At the same time Jack is finding clues pointing to Anna as the murderer.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I’m a Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal fan.

Pablo Schreiber and Chris Bauer co-starred together in Season 2 of The Wire.

As we were watching I told my wife who the real murderer was.  She laughed and said that would be too crazy.  I then said, “No, it’s really _____.”  My wife replied, “That would be even more out there.”  Guess what?  I wasn’t wrong.

His & Hers (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Perdita Durango” aka “Dance with the Devil” (1997) starring Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem and James Gandolfini / Z-View

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Perdita Durango aka Dance with the Devil (1997)

Director: Álex de la Iglesia

Screenplay: Barry Gifford, David Trueba, Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Álex de la Iglesia; based on 59° And RAINING: THE STORY OF PERDITA DURANGO by Barry Gifford

Stars: Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem, Aimee Graham, Demián Bichir, Santiago Segura, Don Stroud, Roger Cudney and James Gandolfini.

Tagline: Get On The Road

The Plot…

Perdita Durango, in Mexico to scatter the ashes of her dead sister, meets Romeo Dolorosa who is on the run.  Dolorosa is a drug dealing, bank robbing satanist.  The two hook-up and devise a plan to kidnap a couple of college students and use them in a cannibalistic ceremony.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Álex de la Iglesia has a very visual style.  He was joined by terrific leads in Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem and James Gandolfini.  But the subject matter was too over the top gross for me.  I tapped out at about the 20 minute mark when a coked-up Dolorosa was hacking up a dead body in front of tourists.  He then threw the limbs in a boiling pot of blood and drank from it.

The character of Perdita Durango first appeared as a minor character in WILD AT HEART another novel by Barry Gifford.  On film she first was played by Isabella Rossellini in the adaptation of the novel.

Javier Bardem’s hairstyle in Perdita Durango is worse than his in No Country for Old Men.

Perdita Durango was released in the United States as Dance with the Devil.

Perdita Durango aka Dance with the Devil (1997) rates 1 of 5 stars.

“The Beast in Me” (2025) starring Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys and Jonathan Banks / Z-View

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The Beast in Me (2025)

Created by: Gabe Rotter

Directors:

  • Antonio Campos (Eps. 1-2; 7-8)
  • Tyne Rafaeli (Eps. 3-4)
  • Lila Neugebauer (Eps. 5-6)

Teleplay:

  • Gabe Rotter and Daniel Pearle; story by Gabe Rotter (Ep. 1)
  • Gabe Rotter (Ep. 2)
  • Erika Sheffer (Ep. 3)
  • C.A. Johnson (Ep. 4)
  • Daniel Pearle (Ep. 5)
  • Ali Liebegott (Ep. 6)
  • Mike Skerrett (Ep. 7)
  • Howard Gordon & Daniel Pearle (Ep. 8)

Stars: Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Brittany Snow, Natalie Morales, Tim Guinee, Hettienne Park, Deirdre O’Connell, Julie Ann Emery, Amir Arison, Peter Grosz, Bill Irwin, Kate Burton and Jonathan Banks.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Aggie Wiggs was on top of the world.  She was an award-winning author with a beautiful wife and child. They lived in a big old house in a wooded remote area.  It was a beautiful life.

Then it all fell apart when a driver crashed into her car killing her son.  Aggie suspected the man was drunk, but he was not charged.  After that Aggie’s marriage fell apart.  It’s been several years now.  Things haven’t gotten better for Aggie.  Her next book is way overdue and the publisher wants it.

Aggie is surprised when Nile Jarvis moves in next door.  Jarvis is the the super rich real estate magnate suspected of killing his first wife.  Although Jarvis was never charged, his wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances.  Jarvis is a ruthless business man used to getting his way in every aspect of his life.  He’s also a narcissist and perhaps a sociopath.

When Aggie decides to write a book about Jarvis, it brings her into his orbit.  Which is a dangerous place to be.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Beast in Me was executive produced by Claire Danes, Jodie Foster and Conan O’Brien.

Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys had no idea how the series would end when they signed on to star.

Claire Danes, Matthew Rhys, Natalie Morales and Jonathan Banks are excellent.  The series is well written and well directed.  It gets my highest recommendation.

The Beast in Me (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.