“Hellboy: The Crooked Man” (2024) starring Jack Kesy, Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph and Martin Bassindale / Z-View

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Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)

Director: Brian Taylor

Screenplay: Christopher Golden, Mike Mignola, Brian Taylor

Stars: Jack Kesy, Jefferson White, Adeline Rudolph, Leah McNamara, Joseph Marcell, Anton Trendafilov and Martin Bassindale.

Tagline: From original story by Mike Mignola.

The Plot…

1959.  Hellboy (Kesy) and rookie BRPD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) agent, Bobbie Jo Song, (Rudolph) find themselves stranded deep in the woods of the Appalachian Mountains following a train derailment.  There the meet Tom Ferrell (White).  Ferrell has returned hoping to make things right.  Years ago Ferrell made a deal with The Crooked Man.

The deal will cost Ferrell his soul.  Hellboy has other plans.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Although there have been four Hellboy movies this is the first where Mike Mignola, Hellboy creator, received a co-screenwriter credit.

This is the first Hellboy movie that feels like a horror film.  The music is especially creepy.

The biggest shock for me was the look of Hellboy this time out.  I am so used to Ron Perlman as the big lug.  Hellboy: The Crooked Man is set in 1959. Since Hellboy first appeared on earth in 1944 and the Perlman version appears around 1999, I put it in my mind we were seeing a much younger Hellboy and one day he would grow to look like Perlman’s Hellboy.  That fixed that.

I really liked Hellboy: The Crooked Man.  I’m surprised that it doesn’t have better ratings.  It could be most of these folks only know Hellboy from Guillermo Del Toro and Ron Perlman.  If so, they should give the Mike Mignola stories a look.  Perhaps then they’d appreciate Hellboy: The Crooked Man more.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

GOOD DAY IN HELL by J.D. Rhodes / Z-View

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GOOD DAY IN HELL by J.D. Rhodes

First sentence…

The first blow split Stan’s lip and knocked him into a stack of recapped tires at the back of the repair bay.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jack Keller is an ex-vet who makes a living as a bounty hunter.  Keller still deals with personal issues from an attack that left him the sole survivor of his unit.  His relationship with sheriff’s deputy Marie Jones has been tested more than once because of this.

Keller’s latest assignment is to bring in Laurel Marks.  She’s a nineteen year old who didn’t show up for a court hearing.  Bringing her in should be easy money.

Meanwhile Deputy Jones is first on the scene of a brutal gas station robbery.  The owner of the station was repeatedly shot, with the death blow being point blank to the face.  The station owner’s son is missing.

Shortly after the gas station robbery, a trio of killers begin their mass murder spree.  They film the executions for a local newscaster.  The killings come hours apart and are low risk/high target spots.  The killers become immediate nationwide news sensations.

When Keller is almost killed following up on a lead, it becomes clear Laurel Marks is part of the murderous trio.  Keller is ordered by the police to stand down.  He refuses.  Now it’s personal.  Keller will bring her in, no matter the cost.

With every police officer in the state on the lookout for them, the killers know it’s just a matter of time before they’re brought down.  They’ve always planned to go out in a blaze of glory.  They want publicity.  What better way to get it than to take down a police officer broadcast live on television.  And what sweet revenge since it will be Keller’s lover, sheriff’s deputy Marie Jones.

+++++

This is the second in J.D. Rhodes’ Jack Keller series.  You don’t need to have read the first to enjoy this outing.

Rating:

“Sin City” (2005) directed by Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller; starring Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba & Benico Del Toro / Z-View

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Sin City (2005)

Director: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller based on Sin City created by Frank Miller

Screenplay: Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez

Stars: Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Powers Boothe, Jude Ciccolella, Jeff Dashnaw, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Elijah Wood, Carla Gugino, Josh Hartnett, Rutger Hauer, Greg Ingram, Nicky Katt, Jaime King, Michael Madsen, Frank Miller, Brittany Murphy, Nick Stahl, Nick Offerman, Jason Douglas, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rick Gomez and Tommy Flanagan.

Tagline: Walk down the right back alley in Sin City and you can find anything.

The Plot…

Four interconnected tales from Sin City…

The Customer is Always Right… A hitman that marks don’t see coming until it is too late. (Bookends the movie.)

That Yellow Bastard… For Detective John Hartigan (Willis) it’s his last day on the job.  He’s thinking about the thick steak his wife has waiting for him at the end of his shift.  But first, Hartigan is going to have a run-in with a serial killer who preys on children. Hartigan learns that the sick bastard is the son of a Senator, and is now prepping his next victim.  Hartigan knows this can only end one way.  He’ll save the child or die trying.

The Hard Goodbye… Marv (Rourke) is a ex-con hardcase.  Last night he had a one night stand with a goddess named Goldie.  She was beautiful beyond belief.  Marv wonders why she picked a big scary mug like him when she could have any man she wanted.  He’ll have to work it out later.  He just woke up.  Goldie is in bed beside him.  Dead.  Someone snuck in and murdered her while they were sleeping.  And now Marv hears cops coming up the stairs.  Someone set him up.  Someone killed Goldie.  Marv knows once he finds the killer the hell he sends the murderer to will seem like heaven after what Marv does to him.  But first the cops outside his door…

The Big Fat Kill… When Shellie’s ex-boyfriend, Jackie Boy (Del Toro) shows up unexpectedly with his crew, he’s surprised to find Shellie’s new boyfriend, Dwight (Owen) there.  The events that follow will lead to a potential turf war… unless Dwight and some of his friends from Old Town can set things right.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Sin City, the movie, is what Robert Rodriguez called a “translation” of three of Frank Miller’s Sin City graphic novels – The Hard Goodbye; The Big Fat Kill, That Yellow Bastard and Miller’s Sin City short, The Customer is Always Right.  They are some of my all time favorite comics and the movie is a beautiful “translation”.

Quentin Tarantino is listed as a guest director.  Tarantino directed the scene between Dwight and Jackie Boy before the cop pulls the car over.

Rodriguez filmed the opening “intro” before Miller agreed to the Sin City “translation”.  Rodriguez wanted to prove that Miller’s Sin City tales could work as a movie that complemented the comics.  The comic panels from each tale were used as storyboards.

Robert Rodriguez working with Frank Miller to bring Sin City to the big screen was a dream project for me.  Magnificent casting was the icing on the cake.  If you like the comics, you should enjoy the movie.

Sin City (2005) rates 5 of 5 stars.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by Simon Braund is Coming (to get you, Barbara)!

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Has any film influenced a genre and had an impact on movies, television, books, comics, graphic novels, video games and pop culture like George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead?  I don’t think so.

Fans of the movie are in for a treat on September 30th when NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE OFFICIAL STORY OF THE FILM by Simon Braund is released.  Here’s the info…

The official retrospective of one of cinema’s most important films – Night of the Living Dead.

The full story of the first “zombie” movie, the 1968 George A. Romero cult film that denoted the birth of modern horror genre.

Released in 1968, George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead revolutionized horror, redefining the zombie subgenre and influencing filmmakers for generations.

This official retrospective tells the full story of how the film was made by a small group of people at the outset of their film-making careers. Interviews with cast and production company members explore the genesis of the movie, from persuading friends and family to become investors, finding the perfect run-down farmhouse in rural western Pennsylvania for the central location, assembling a cast of extras to portray “flesh-eating ghouls”, and the ground-breaking casting of a black actor in a leading role — Duane Jones as Ben — to therough-and-tumble guerilla-style shoot.

The book explores how Night of the Living Dead went from controversial to iconic over the years, gaining critical acclaim and a hardcore cult following. And how zombies — as envisioned by Romero and his co-creators—now permeate everything from video games to literature, all tracing back to the unparalleled original.

Illustrated with movie stills, memorabilia, and unpublished on-set photos never previously seen, and including analysis of the original shooting script annotated by George A. Romero, this book is a must-have for horror fans.

“Clipped Wings” (1953) starring Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and the Bowery Boys / Z-View

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Clipped Wings (1953)

Director: Edward Bernds

Screenplay: Elwood Ullman, Charles R. Marion

Stars: Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Renie Riano, Todd Karns, June Vincent, Fay Roope, Mary Treen, David Gorcey,
Benny Bartlett, Philip Van Zandt, Lyle Talbot, Ray Walker, Conrad Brooks and Bernard Gorcey.

Tagline: Fasten Your LAFF-Belts! They’re JET JOCKEYS NOW!

The Plot…

Slip (L. Gorcey) and Sach (Hall) learn that their buddy, Dave Moreno (Karns) has been charged with treason by the US Air Force.  So the boys decide to go to the base to find out what is going on.  Leave it to Slip and Satch to think that they are signing in to the air force base when they are actually enlisting!

To further screw things up, Sach is mistakenly assigned to the WAF (Women’s Air Force) barracks!

Even if the boys are able to prove Dave’s innocent, they are in the Air Force now!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Clipped Wings is the 31st of 48 Bowery Boys movies.

Clipped Wings (1953) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Paradise”: Season 1 (2025) starring Sterling K. Brown; Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden / Z-View

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Paradise: Season 1 (2025)

Created by: Dan Fogelman 

Director: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa (Eps. 1-2; 7-8); Gandja Monteiro (Eps. 3-4); Hanelle Culpepper (Eps. 5-6)

Teleplay: Dan Fogelman (Ep. 1); Dan Fogelman & Katie French (Ep. 2); Jason Wilborn (Ep. 3); Scott Weinger (Ep. 4); Stephen Markley (Ep. 5); Gina Lucita Monreal (Ep. 6); John Hoberg (Ep. 7); Nadra Widatalla (Ep. 8)

Stars: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, James Marsden, Krys Marshall, Cassidy Freeman, Scott Lawrence, Richard Robichaux, Gerald McRaney, Rafael Cabrera, Eddie Diaz, Roberto Portales, Christopher Sanders, Matt Malloy, Tuc Watkins, Geoffrey Arend, Charlie Evans, Ian Merrigan, Vien Hong, Carlos Sanz, Michelle Meredith, Glynn Turman, Ca’Ron Jaden Coleman, Micah Fitzgerald, Amy Pietz, Joe Holt, Tyler Jacob Moore, Walter Belenky and Jon Beavers.

Tagline:  Read between the lies

The Plot…

Xavier Collins (Brown) is part of the President’s Secret Service detail and the last person to see him alive.  The President was killed sometime during the night.  When Xavier is brought in for questioning, he realizes that it may be up to him to find the person who killed the President.

And the answer to that isn’t the biggest plot twist!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I went into Paradise: Season 1 thinking it would be a murder mystery with behind-the-scenes intrigue, double crosses, action and more.  It is, but on a much larger scale than I imagined.  The first episode plot twist is a shocker and sets up the entire season.

Paradise has a great cast of actors.  Standouts include Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Aliyah Mastin, James Marsden, Glynn Turman and Jon Beavers.

I love all episodes of Paradise, but episode 7 is a standout.

Paradise: Season 1 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“Chaos: The Manson Murders” (2025) / Z-View

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Chaos: The Manson Murders (2025)

Director: Errol Morris

Based on: CHAOS: CHARLES MANSON, THE C.I.A., AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE SIXTIES  by Tom O’Neill with Dan Piepenbring

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Chaos: The Manson Murders details the events leading up to the murders of Sharon Tate (who was 8 1/2 months pregnant), Jay Sebring, Voytek Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Steven Parent, Leno LaBianca, and Rosemary LaBianca.  It also explores other lesser-known murders and crimes committed by Manson and his followers.

It then investigates possible connections between Charles Manson and the C.I.A.  How could it be possible that Manson was able to break parole, create a cult of followers who did his bidding and fly under the radar of the police?  Could there have been more at play than we know?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Chaos: The Manson Murders does an excellent job of detailing the events and people involved in Charlie Manson’s cult, the victims, as well as the trial of the century.  In addition other crimes and little know facts are presented.  I’ve followed the Manson murders/trial as well as books, documentaries, television specials, etc. for decades.  I enjoyed Chaos: The Manson Murders, but found the C.I.A. speculation to be a bit of stretch.  Still, I thought the documentary was excellent.

Chaos: The Manson Murders (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.

“F1” starring Brad Pitt – The Poster & Trailer are Here!

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Here we have the poster and trailer for F1 starring Brad Pitt.  The trailer looks to hit many of the same beats as Driven starring Sly Stallone.  Who doesn’t love the old gunfighter coming back to teach the young hotshot?

Deal me in.

Meet APXGP. Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce. #F1Movie only in theaters this SUMMER.

From Apple Original Films and the filmmakers from Top Gun: Maverick comes the high-octane, action-packed feature film F1, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski. The film is produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Kosinski, seven-time FORMULA 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Chad Oman.

Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition—and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone.

F1 also stars Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, and Javier Bardem, and has been shot during actual Grand Prix weekends as the team competes against the titans of the sport.

Kosinski directs from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. The film is executive produced by Daniel Lupi. Collaborating with Kosinski behind the scenes are his creative team, including director of photography Claudio Miranda, production designers Mark Tildesley and Ben Munro, editor Stephen Mirrione, costume designer Julian Day, casting director Lucy Bevan and composer Hans Zimmer.

Apple Original Films Presents a Monolith Pictures / Jerry Bruckheimer / Plan B Entertainment / Dawn Apollo Films Production, A Film by Joseph Kosinski, F1, distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters and IMAX nationwide on June 27, 2025 and internationally beginning 25 June 2025.

“Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial” (2024) / Z-View

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Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial (2024)

Director: Joe Berlinger

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial is a six part miniseries that traces the rise and fall of Adolph Hitler.

  • Ep. 1: Traces Hitler’s life as a child growing into a man who dreamed of being an artist.  Hitler’s role in World War I.
  • Ep. 2: Hitler’s ability as a public speaker allows him to become one of the most popular politicians in Germany.
  • Ep. 3: Hitler brings forth laws targeting Jews and making them the scapegoat for all of Germany’s problems.  Hitler brings Austria into the Third Reich.
  • Ep. 4: Hitler’s desire to increase German territory leads him to take the war to more countries.  Concentrations camps are introduced.
  • Ep. 5: Concentration and death camps are causing the deaths of countless people.  As World War II rages, Hitler calls for the invasion of his ally, Russia.
  • Ep. 6: Germany loses the war, Hitler and some of his closest commanders commit suicide.  The allies round up Nazi leaders and for the first time in history, countries come together to hold a trial in Nuremberg.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial does a nice job of summarizing Hitler’s life, the rise and fall of Nazism and the Nuremberg trial.  I wish there were less reenactments and more vintage footage.  I would have also liked a bigger emphasis on the Nuremberg trial.  But that’s just nitpicking.

Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The 8th Day” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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The poster and trailer for The 8th Day is here.

The person in charge of advertising should have done a better job.  The poster is too bright if this is a low-budget gritty crime story (as the trailer indicates).  And check out the synopsis below the trailer…

Two small-time thieves find themselves in a remote West Texas town.

How boring and non-descriptive is that?

So… if you’ve read this far, maybe just check out the trailer.  I like the looks of it.

Deal me in.

US Release Date: March 14, 2025
Starring: Coley Speaks, Darren Mann, Phoebe Tonkin
Director: Alexandra Chando
Synopsis: Two small-time thieves find themselves in a remote West Texas town.

“Manson: The Women” (2019) / Z-View

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Manson: The Women (2019)

Director: James Buddy Day

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Manson: The Women explores how four of Charles Manson’s female cult members were recruited, compelled to follow Manson’s every command and how they feel about Manson today.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Manson: The Women takes an interesting idea and showcases how four women who were members of Charles Manson’s family were recruited, compelled to follow Manson’s orders and how they feel about Manson today.  This is done using vintage footage, and interviews coupled with current interviews.

The recruitment method was similar for all of the women — they were young troubled girls without a support system looking for one.  Once in the family, Manson won them over using drugs, sex and saying things to make them feel special (even though he treated them terribly).  Manson had sex with all of them and made them available to anyone he wanted to impress.  They would beg, steal, and even kill for Charlie Manson.

All these years later, two looked back on their time in the cult with disgust, while two still spoke favorably about Manson and the things that went on there.

Manson: The Women (2019) rates 4 of 5 stars.