“Aliens” by Barret Chapman!
“Aliens” by Barret Chapman! If you see aliens coming like this…
That’s it, man. Game over, man. Game over!
“Police Story” (1985) directed by and starring Jackie Chan / Z-View
Police Story (1985)
Director: Jackie Chan
Screenplay: Jackie Chan, Edward Tang
Stars: Jackie Chan, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung.
Tagline: From the master of action comes more screen excitement than you’ve ever seen.
The Plot…
Sergeant Chan Ka-Kui, an undercover officer in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force was part of a task force to bring down crime lord Chu Tao. Things go sideways. Now Tao wants revenge and his target is Sergeant Chan.
Step back, Jackie Chan is ready to roll!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Police Story is famous for several big stunts and set pieces. In one, Jackie slides several stories down a pole of Christmas lights in a mall. In this stunt, Chan burned his hands, injured two vertebrae and dislocated his pelvis. The pole slide was done in one take, without rehearsals and without the use of wires.
Sly Stallone paid homage to a Jackie Chan action beat in Police Story. In Tango & Cash, Stallone’s character stops a semi, the same way that Chan stops the bus.
Police Story (1985) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Rocky Balboa by Shane Douberly!
I first met Shane Douberly at a HeroesCon. I’d never seen Shane’s art before but loved his style. So I hit him up for his take on Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa. Shane came through with a knockout.
“Death by Lightning” (2025) written by Mike Makowski, directed by Matt Ross, starring Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman and Betty Gilpin / Z-View
Death by Lightning (2025)
Created by: Mike Makowsky; based on DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC: A TALE OF MADNESS, MEDICINE AND THE MURDER OF A PRESIDENT by Candice Millard
Director:
- Matt Ross (Eps. 1-4)
Teleplay:
- Mike Makowsky (Eps. 1-4)
Stars: Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford, Nick Offerman, Laura Marcus, David Nykl, Alfie Tempest, Paula Malcomson, Barry Shabaka Henley and Vondie Curtis-Hall.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Congressman James Garfield went to the 1880 Republican National Convention to give a nomination speech. Garfield’s oratory was so powerful that through an unlikely series of events he became the party’s nominee. Although an underdog, Garfield won the election and became the 20th President of the United States.
Charles Guiteau, an ex-con, chronic liar and thief has dreams of glory and fame. Guiteau admires Garfield and feels their destiny’s are intwined. But they are not.
So Guiteau decides to kill the man he admires. Guiteau shoots Garfield in the back. Garfield is bedridden and in pain for months. Eighty days after being shot he dies. James Garfield was President just 200 days. But his Presidency had a positive impact to this day that few realize.
Charles Guiteau dreamed of fame. He was executed for his crime and is largely forgotten except to historians.
This is their story.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Death by Lightning is an amazing, but true story. Although a dramatization, it sticks very close to the actual events. Kudos to Mike Makowsky, who wrote the teleplay for all four episodes, and to Candice Millard who wrote the book which inspired the project.
The cast is amazing. Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford and Nick Offerman give performances that deserve awards. They are amazing. It was also nice to see Barry Shabaka Henley and Vondie Curtis-Hall appear.
Death by Lightning gets my highest recommendation.
Death by Lightning (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Cobra” by Rudy Ao!
If a movie poster is what you need, Rudy Ao is the cure! What a cool painting!
“I don’t deal with psychos. I put ’em away.” – Marion Cobretti
“Poltergeist” Alt Poster by Chris Koehler!
Chris Koehler alt poster for Poltergeist that works!
“Now clear your minds. It knows what scares you. It has from the very beginning. Don’t give it any help, it knows too much already.” – Tangina
FEVER HOUSE by Keith Rosson / Z-View
FEVER HOUSE by Keith Rosson
First sentences…
Tim Reed sits in the driver’s seat of his ancient and rust-punched Datsun hatchback, balancing a screwdriver on the tip of his finger. Hutch and Tim are killing time, waiting for some poor guy to come home so they can terrify him and, if necessary, perform grievous harm to the architecture of the man’s body. It’s the usual deal: reluctance to pay a debt owed.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Tim and Hutch are leg-breakers for Peach Sorreno. Although the two are more than willing to throw a beatdown on deadbeats who’ve borrowed from Peach, when Tim and Hutch show up to collect, more often than not they come away with money. That’s par for the course and the way it’s been working that night.
Until they get to Wesley.
Wesley’s a methhead. He claims he has no money. When Tim and Hutch search Wesley’s apartment, they find a severed hand in his refrigerator. Tim and Hutch decide to take Wesley and the hand to Peach’s warehouse. There they’ll sort out what to do next.
What Tim and Hutch don’t know, but will soon learn is the hand causes anyone near it to get violent, murderous thoughts. These urges become so strong and persistant that those under the influence lose control and act on them. They will brutally murder anyone near. Worse still, the killed by a person under the influence of the demon hand, reanimate as zombies with the same sadistic killing urges.
As the madness spreads two factions work to recover the hand…
- Peach Sorreno knows Tim and Hutch had the hand, but do they still? Sorreno wants it badly, and brings in Nick Coffin, one of his “fixers” to resolve the issue.
- A US government black ops organization that deals with the occult has been searching for the hand. Under the direction of David Lundy (who wants the demon hand to weaponize it), two field agents, John Bonner and Samantha Weils are boots on the ground.
With each passing minute, the fevor spreads. One infected becomes two. Two become four. If the hand isn’t recovered and destroyed, it could be the end of the world.
+++
When I started FEVER HOUSE I expected a crime novel with horror overtones. What I got was an epic, crime/conspiracy/horror/demonic/apocalyptic tale that I absolutely loved. I’ve already purchased the sequel and it’s nearing the top of my next-to-read pile.
FEVER HOUSE gets my highest recommendation.
Rating:
“The Wrecking Crew” (2026) starring Dave Bautista and Jason Mamoa / Z-View
The Wrecking Crew (2026)
Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
Screenplay: Jonathan Tropper
Stars: Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin, Maia Kealoha, Stephen Root, Miyavi, David Hekili Kenui Bell, Lydia Peckham, Branscombe Richmond, Stephen Oyoung and Claes Bang.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Jonny Hale is a reservation cop living in Oklahoma. James Hale is a Navy Seal living in Hawaii. The two are half brothers who haven’t seen each other in ten years. When their father is killed in a hit and run, Jonny returns to Hawaii for the funeral.
Jonny believes that his father was murdered. Although unconvinced at first, James comes around when it becomes clear the Yakuza were involved.
Now Jonny and James have teamed to find the killers. Hawaiians should take cover. Things are about to get crazy.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Wrecking Crew features David Hekili Kenui Bell final film role. He died on June 12, 2025.
Dave Bautista and Jason Mamoa have great chemistry. Kudos also to Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin and Stephen Root.
I wanted to like this film more, but it was a bit too over-the-top to be taken seriously. They really leaned into the humor to the point that I never felt concerned for the duo’s safety. The action (with a couple of gory scenes as well) is ratcheted up to match the humor. Still, watching Bautista and Mamoa tear through the bad guys isn’t a bad way to spend an hour and half.
The Wrecking Crew (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“John Wick” Alt Poster by Vlad Rodriguez!
Vlad Rodriguez is a Miami based illustrator. Rodriguez has a passion for film. Here’s his alt poster for John Wick!
“Paradise”: Season 2 – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Check out the poster and trailer for Paradise: Season 2.
Deal me in!
It was never just about the bunker!
Xavier searches for Teri out in the world and learns how people survived the three years since ‘The Day’. Back in Paradise, the social fabric frays and new secrets are uncovered about the city’s origins.
VAMPIRELLA by Nic Klein!
VAMPIRELLA by Nic Klein! Klein, pun intended, nailed it.
Marv by Lucas Doggu!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv by Lucas Doggu.
“Diablo” (2025) starring Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror / Z-View
Diablo (2025)
Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza
Screenplay: Mat Sansom, story by Mat Sansom, Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, Ernesto Díaz Espinoza
Stars: Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror, Alanna De La Rossa, Lucho Velasco.
Tagline: There’ll Be Hell to Pay
The Plot…
Elisa, the daughter of Vincente, an extremely rich and ruthless Mexican mob boss, has been kidnapped. Kris Chaney, an ex-con has Elisa and is trying to escape with her back to the United States. Vincente has his entire criminal network looking for them plus he’s hired El Corvo, a psychopathic killer who will stop at nothing to finish his assignment.
Outnumbered and outgunned, Chris has little chance of survival.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you don’t see the plot twist coming, get your eyes checked. ; )
Diablo (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Juan Saniose presents “The Man. The Myth. The Legend.”
Juan Saniose presents The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
“The Thicket” (2024), starring Peter Dinklage, Juliette Lewis, Esmé Creed-Miles, Levon Hawke and Leslie Grace with Gbenga Akinnagbe / Z-View
The Thicket (2024)
Director: Elliott Lester
Screenplay: Chris Kelley, based on THE THICKET by Joe R. Lansdale
Stars: Peter Dinklage, Juliette Lewis, Esmé Creed-Miles, Levon Hawke, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Ned Dennehy, James Hetfield, Macon Blair, Arliss Howard, Leslie Grace, Ryan Robbins, Teach Grant, Derek Gilroy, Roger LeBlanc and David Midthunder.
Tagline: Death comes fast in Texas
The Plot…
Jack, his sister Lula and their grandfather Caleb, are on their way to Caleb’s 700 acre ranch in Montana. At a ferry crossing they come across the infamous outlaw Cut-Throat Bill and her gang. Caleb is murdered. Jack left for dead and Lula is kidnapped.
Jack makes it to the next town. There he sees part-time bounty hunters / grave diggers Reginald Jones and Eustace Howard in action. Jones and Howard make an unlikely pair. Jones has dwarfism and Howard is a black man. Jack wants to hire them to help him rescue his sister. Jones and Howard are hesitant to go against Cut-Throat Bill and her gang. When Jack tells them he owns a 700 acre ranch in Montana and offers them land if they take on the job. They agree knowing that success is unlikely.
What chance does a young kid, and part-time bounty hunters have against Cut-Throat Bill and her gang? Let’s find out.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Thicket is based on Joe R. Lansdale’s novel of the same name released by Mulholland Books on September 10, 2013. Making the film was a longtime passion project for Peter Dinklage. Dinklage was first linked to the project in 2014.
Juliette Lewis has never been better. She owns every scene as the frightening and murderous Cut-Throat Bill.
The Thicket (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
