Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Classic Horror Films posted the Universal Monsters Checklist above. I highlighted in red the films I’ve seen. 76% isn’t bad, but I thought my percentage would be higher. I need to do something to fix that.
Anyone got a higher percentage? Sound off. Favorites? What have you missed?
Dan Brereton presents The Creature from the Black Lagoon!
The trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is here! I think it looks even better than 28 Years Later!
Deal me in.
Watch the trailer for #28YearsLater: The Bone Temple – exclusively in movie theatres 1.16.26.
Expanding upon the world created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland in 28 Years Later but turning that world on its head – Nia DaCosta directs 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
In a continuation of the epic story, Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – and Spike’s (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) becomes a nightmare he can’t escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival – the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.
Directed by: Nia DaCosta
Written by: Alex GarlandProduced by: Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle, Alex Garland
Executive Producer: Cillian Murphy
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry
Sinners is a stunning film. It’s also a favorite of critics and audiences worldwide. I love that it’s inspired so many artists. Al Abbazia created this Sinners-worthy alt poster. You can see more of Al Abbazia’s art here.
I hope you dig this clever alt poster for Midnight Mass by Rafał Rola as much as I do.
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: John Logan, Dante Harper; story by Jack Paglen, Michael Green; based on characters by Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Jussie Smollett, Uli Latukefu, Tess Haubrich, Lorelei King, Javier Botet and Goran D. Kleut.
Tagline: Run
The Plot…
The year is 2104. The spaceship Covenant, carrying over 1,000 colonists in cryogenic stasis, is damaged in deep space. Several crew members are killed. Walter, the android overseeing the mission, wakes mission specialists to perform repairs. Suddenly the ship begins receiving transmissions from an uncharted planet.
Despite protests, the Covenant’s new Captain decides to send a scouting crew to investigate.
Run!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Alien Covenant didn’t resonate with me. I’m a fan of the franchise. Alien, Aliens and Alien Resurrection are favorites. Sadly Alien Covenant fell far short of those films. Your mileage may vary.
Alien: Covenant (2017) rates 2 of 5 stars
HUNTER by James Byron Huggins is one of my all-time favorite novels. Now Huggins is back with a sequel titled HUNTER’S MOON. Here the lowdown…
It Lives to Kill. He Lives to Hunt.
International bestselling author James Byron Huggins returns with the sequel to his novel HUNTER, delivering a story of primal terror, relentless pursuit, and ultimate confrontation.
A brilliant but twisted Army scientist has done the unthinkable. He has become the beast, an ancient, prehistoric monster powerful enough to survive anything, even death itself. Buried beneath ice for ten thousand years, it was meant to stay forgotten. Now it walks again, leaving a trail of blood and destruction across the English countryside.
No conscience. No mercy. No weakness.
Only one man has faced the creature and survived. Hunter. Once again, he is called to do what no one else can: track and destroy the unstoppable before it consumes everything in its path.
Driven by duty, haunted by memory, and pursued by the past, Hunter must go beyond fear, beyond pain, and beyond human limits to end what began in a time before history.
The battle has begun. The world hangs in the balance.
This time, there may be no return.
HUNTER’S MOON drops August 31st. Get your order in now. I did.
I am a huge fan of Bitter Root by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown and Sanford Greene. So you’d be right to think that picking up Bitter Root Volume 4: The Next Movement is a no-brainer. Here’s the lowdown…
A Lie built a House of Oppression. The Bitter Truth will burn it down.
It is 1964, the height of the Civil Rights Movement. A group of activists have gone missing, and a new generation of the Sangerye family must face a menace far worse than anything their ancestors ever encountered. The monstrous jinoo—creatures born out of hate and racism—have evolved into a threat that few people are willing to acknowledge, and even fewer know how to fight.
A bold new chapter in the epic saga of the multiple Eisner Award-winning series collects BITTER ROOT: THE NEXT MOVEMENT #1-5.
Pre-orders for the October 28, 2025 release are available now.
Deal me in.
Check out this killer alt Near Dark poster by Frederick Cooper!
Occupation (2018)
Director: Luke Sparke
Screenplay: Luke Sparke
Stars: Dan Ewing, Temuera Morrison, Stephany Jacobsen, Jacqueline McKenzie and Bruce Spence.
Tagline: First contact will be mankind’s last stand.
The Plot…
When a world-wide alien invasion begins a group of small town Australians band together to fight back.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Luke Sparke pitched the movie as “Independence Day crossed with Red Dawn“. Great concept, but poor execution. I tapped out at the 67 minute mark.
Occupation (2018) rates 1 of 5 stars
Long Distance (2024)
Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Screenplay: Spenser Cohen
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Naomi Scott, Kristofer Hivju and Zachary Quinto.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
A spaceship carrying off-world miners is hit by asteroid. As the ship begins to explode, escape pods are jettisoned. One carrying Andy lands on a nearby planet. Andy has a small air supply and his AI-equipped spacesuit. When radioing for other survivors, Andy hears back from only one. Her name is Naomi and she’s trapped in her escape pod.
Andy sets out to free her unaware of the creatures and dangerous terrain ahead.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Long Distance starts with a literal bang.
Although Naomi Scott gets top billing, she doesn’t appear on screen until about halfway through the movie.
Zachary Quinto voices Andy’s spacesuit AI.
Long Distance (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars
Francesco Francavilla said he never gets tired of drawing The Creature from the Black Lagoon. And I never get tired of seeing the results.
Operation Undead (2024)
Director: Khom Kongkiat Khomsiri
Screenplay: Khom Kongkiat Khomsiri
Stars: Thawatchanin Darayon, Akkarat Nimitchai.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
1941. World War II rages. In Chumphon Province, Thailand, a squad of rookie soldiers find themselves fighting against well armed Japanese invaders. Then a zombie outbreak starts.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I like well made zombie films. One set during World War II has a lot of potential. I tapped out at the 35 minute mark. Your mileage may vary.
Operation Undead (2024) rates 1 of 5 stars
Bruno Vergauwen has created two very cool prints for The Crow. The art on top is available as a 36″ x 24″ hand-numbered screen print in an edition of 200 for $60.
The bottom variant is available with archival pigment on 4mm thick acrylic panel, 36 x 24 inches, with Digital numbered COA issued by Verisart in a limited edition of 75 for $125.
Both will be available on Thursday (8/14) @ 12PM ET at Bottleneckgallery.com!
