Batman’s Discovery by Leonardo Romero!
Diggin’ this Batman art by Leonardo Romero.
“Nightmare” (1964) / Z-View
Nightmare (1964)
Director: Freddie Francis
Screenplay: Jimmy Sangster
Stars: David Knight, Moira Redmond, Brenda Bruce, Jennie Linden.
Tagline: THREE SHOCKING MURDERS…did she DREAM them? …or DO them?
The Plot…
Six years ago Janet Freeman saw her mother stabbed to death. Janet was eleven. Nightmares have haunted her since. Now seventeen, the night terrors have become so bad that Janet has been sent home from boarding school to recover.
At home, the nightmares become worse and even more realistic. Is Janet dreaming of murders or commiting them?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
There are worse ways to spend 82 minutes…
Nightmare (1964) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Daylight” Alt Poster by Pete Lloyd!
Daylight is a movie that doesn’t get enough love. So I was glad to see this alt nice poster created by Pete Lloyd.
Hold Your Breath
“Dobermann” (1997) / Z-View
Dobermann (1997)
Director: Jan Kounen
Screenplay: Joël Houssin
Stars: Vincent Cassel, Tchéky Karyo, Monica Bellucci.
Tagline: Are you ready for a Good Time?
The Plot…
Dobermann, a daring and charismatic criminal and his gang of outlandish misfits are hunted by a sadistic cop and his team off oddballs.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Dobermann is styish and over-the-top. Too much so for me. I tapped out after 33 minutes. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
Dobermann (1997) rates 1 of 5 stars.
“Double Indemnity” Alt Poster by Angora!
Double Indemnity is one of my all-time favorite movies. Angora has come up with an alt poster that I hope brings more eyes to the film.
“A Working Man” (2025) starring Jason Statham / Z-View
A Working Man (2025)
Director: David Ayer
Screenplay: Sylvester Stallone, David Ayer based on LEVON’S TRADE by Chuck Dixon
Stars: Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Maximilian Osinski, Cokey Falkow, Michael Peña, Noemi Gonzalez, Emmett J. Scanlan, Emmett J. Scanlan and David Harbour.
Tagline: Human traffickers beware.
The Plot…
Levon Cade is a former Royal Marine Commando now working as a construction foreman. When his boss’ daughter is kidnapped, Levon uses his skills to find her and do what he does best.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
A Working Man is the second film written by Sly Stallone that stars Jason Statham. Homefront (2013) was the first.
A Working Man (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“The Godfather Part II” by Mark Levy!
This Godfather Part II art was created by Mark Levy for The Godfather trilogy custom box set.
“I don’t want anything to happen to him while my mother’s alive.”
“Year 10” (2024) / Z-View
Year 10 (2024)
Director: Ben Goodger
Screenplay: Ben Goodger
Stars: Alexander Anderson, Emma Cole, Joseph Coleman and Luke Massy.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Ten years into an apocalyptic future, civilization has collapsed. People survive in the wilderness avoiding wild dogs and cannibals.
When a roving tribe of cannibals kills his father, and steals their provisions, a young man must get back the medicine the man-eaters stole. Medicine needed to keep his girlfriend alive.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
There is not a single line of dialogue in the entire film. This makes little sense. Did everyone forget how to speak?
Year 10 has an interesting concept, but there are too many coincidences for my taste.
Year 10 (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
BLOOD AND MAGICK by James R. Tuck / Z-View
BLOOD AND MAGICK by James R. Tuck
First sentences…
I should have known.
There were signs. I’m supposed to be the damn expert. I should have caught the warnings.
I should have.
But I was completely clueless until the minute the restaurant exploded in a wave of eldritch flame and burning glass.
The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…
Deacon Chalk knows the truth about things that go bump in the night. Chalk looks like a stereotypical biker. Bald head. Tats. Tall, broad-shouldered and muscular. But Chalk is anything but stereotypical. Several years ago, he almost died along with his family. Vampires took them out. But Chalk was saved by an angelic blood transfusion. Yeah, angel’s blood.
Now Chalk and the small circle of friends that surround him are monster hunters.
But not tonight.
Chalk, his girlfriend Tiff, and their friends are having a quiet dinner. Then all hell explodes. Literally. Members of a coven known as the Wrath of Baphomet attack. They’re after the “Blood of the Trinity”.
Chalk and his team are no longer the monster hunters… tonight the monsters hunt them.
+++
BLOOD AND MAGICK is the third book in James R. Tuck’s Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter series. I’ve read and enjoyed all three.
I love crime, noir and detective/anti-hero stories. Add the right mix of humor and violence and I’m on board. The tales don’t normally feature werewolves, vampires, witches or demons. But Tuck’s Deacon Chalk yarns do, and they work.
Chalk is the type of anti-hero I like. Smart (but not brainy), tough and with enough attitude to get him in tight jams as he tries to (mostly) do the right thing. While I’m not ready for a constant diet of this genre, when I do want another taste, I know James R. Tuck is open for business with other tales.
Rating:
“Dark Winds”: Season 4 – The Trailer is Here!
The poster and trailer for Dark Winds: Season 4 is here.
Deal me in.
No matter how many times you ride out to the desert, you won’t sweat away who you are.
The new season of #DarkWinds premieres February 15 on AMC and AMC+.
“Unit 234” (2024) starring Don Johnson, Isabelle Furhman and Jack Huston / Z-View
Unit 234 (2024)
Director: Andy Tennant
Screenplay: Derek Steiner
Stars: Don Johnson, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jack Huston, James DuMont, Manny Galan, Jason Altman, Lia Lando and Christopher James Baker.
Tagline: Some doors should never be opened.
The Plot…
Laurie Saltair is working the overnight shift at her remote storage facility. A man named Jules comes in wanting to get into Unit 234. But it’s not the man who rents the unit. After a tense exchange of words, the man leaves. Laurie decides to check to see what’s in container 234.
She’s shocked to discover a man on a gurney. The man has sutures from a recent surgery. He says his name is Clayton and he’s been kidnapped. They have already taken one of his kidneys and plan to steal more of his organs!
Suddenly the electricity and phone lines to the facility are cut. Laurie frees Clayton from the gurney. As they look for refuge, Jules and two thugs head for Unit 234.
It’s going to be a long night.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Unit 234 is a low-budget thriller that is better than expected. Don Johnson and Isabelle Fuhrman’s acting raises the bar as does the twist ending that you won’t see coming.
Unit 234 (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Marv by Patrick Piazzalunga!
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 Patrick Piazzalunga.
“Mayor of Kingstown”: Season 4 (2025) starring Jeremy Renner and Edie Falco / Z-View
Mayor of Kingstown: Season 4 (2025)
Created by: Taylor Sheridan, Hugh Dillon
Directors:
- Christoph Schrewe (Eps. 1-2; 5-6; 9-10)
- Leslie Hope (Eps. 3-4)
- Guy Ferland (Eps. 7-8)
Teleplay:
- Dave Erickson (Eps. 1; 10)
- Aalia Brown (Ep. 2)
- Christian Donovan (Ep. 3)
- James Arcega Tinsley (Ep. 4)
- Wendy Riss (Eps. 5; 8)
- Molly Forman (Ep. 6)
- Christian Donovan & Jeremiah Wessling (Ep. 7)
- Hugh Dillon (Ep. 9)
Stars: Jeremy Renner, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa, Taylor Handley, Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley, Nishi Munshi, Necar Zadegan, Nichole Galicia, Michael Beach, Lane Garrison, Richard Brake, D Smoke,Phil Rice, Denny Love, Laura Benanti, Lennie James and Edie Falco.
Tagline: You can’t bury the past.
The Plot…
After the events last season Kyle is headed for prison. Mike is working every angle to get Kyle released. Evelyn is willing to cut Kyle a deal if he gives up Ian. This puts Ian on edge and eager to do whatever it takes to get clear… including murder.
Mike meets with the new warden, Nina Hobbs. She’s a hardcase and won’t give Mike (or Kyle) any consideration. But she’s got secrets that could be exploited.
Meanwhile Bunny is offered a chance to work with a Detroit gangster named Frank Moses. Moses is a legend. Bunny’s looking for a partner. Moses is looking to expand his empire.
With Kyle in prison, Merle Callahan, the leader of the Arian Nation has a new way to get to Mike. By hurting Kyle.
The tension mounts as the season progresses. Every encounter is dangerous. Several won’t survive.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Mayor of Kingstown continues to be one of the best (if not the best) written, directed, an acted television series. It has production values that rival those of feature films.
Jeremy Renner is perfect as the no-nonsense and fearless Mike McClusky. Other standouts in the supporting cast include Edie Falco, Lennie James, Hugh Dillon, Tobi Bamtefa and Hamish Allan-Headley. Actually, I should probably list every supporting actor/actress because they are all perfectly cast.
The surprises, twists and ever building tension make each episode must-see tv.
Mayor of Kingstown has been renewed for a shortened (8 episode) final season. I cannot wait.
Mayor of Kingstown: Season 4 (2025) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“Good Time” (2017) directed by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, starring Robert Pattison, Benny Safdie and Jennifer Jason Leigh / Z-View
Good Time (2017)
Director: Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie
Screenplay: Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie
Stars: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Barkhad Abdi and Laurence Blum.
Tagline: Are you ready for a Good Time?
The Plot…
Connie is a small time criminal who takes care of Nick, his mentally impaired and often violent younger brother. Tired of struggling, Connie and Nick rob a bank. During the getaway, a dye pack explodes ruining the cash and causing them to wreck the getaway car. Now on foot, they are chased by the police. Connie escapes. Nick is caught.
Knowing that Nick won’t survive the night in lockup, Connie moves through New York City’s underworld, in an effort to raise enough cash to bail Nick out before his temper gets him killed.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Much of the movie was improvised. Only Robert Pattinson and Benny Safdie were given scripts. They other actors were given background and information about their characters. The scenes were then improvised. The mall chase scene was done during regular hours. The background characters were not actors and their reactions were real.
Benny Safdie is perfect as Nick. He steals every scene.
Robert Pattison’s performance in Good Time is what brought him to Matt Reeves attention and made Reeves want him for The Batman.
Eric Roberts originally played the bail bondsman. The scene was shot in Eric Paykert’s office. Paykert is an actual bail bondsman. The Safdies decided to reshoot the scene using Paykert as the bondsman. Paykert’s real wife played his on-screen wife as well.
Josh Safdie said about the feel of the film: “We wanted to make a piece of entertainment that has a pulpy feel to it. The movie takes place in only one night. It’s a film like a dream, like a nightmare.” Mission accomplished.
Good Time (2017) rates 4 of 5 stars.
