Perhaps the prototypical gangster movie, it was hounded by the censorship office because they thought it made crime look too glamorous.
Category Archives: American movies
THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970)
After the passing this week of the great Dean Stockwell, we revisit his very weird performance in a Roger Corman HP Lovecraft adaptation because… I felt like it.
KILLER OF SHEEP (1978)
When all of your time and energy is devoted just to staying alive, what is the point of any of this? This rediscovered classic doesn’t have answers but wants to show you people asking the same questions.
NOTORIOUS (1946)
Alfred Hitchcock takes some very standard materials and somehow makes an amazing movie out of them… a great performance by Ingrid Bergman at the center helps, too.
DUNE (1984)
The first film version of Frank Herbert’s best-selling sci-fi novel was directed by David Lynch, of all people, and I found it both extremely watchable and an astounding disaster.
THE BAND WAGON (1953)
A big fun colorful 1950s musical that actually, for once, bothers to have characters and arcs and things, and also Fred Astaire dance-fights a bunch of guys.
DRACULA (1931)
The vampire movie from which all others are descended, Bela Lugosi’s very specific performance and many creepy gothic visuals overcome its period limitations.
THE EVIL DEAD (1981)
One of the goriest movies you’ll ever see, made on a very skinny shoestring by a bunch of friends, which seems to ask “what would be most disturbing at this moment?” and then do that.
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956)
A classic of Cold War paranoia that still rings true today, about our friends, loved ones, and neighbors turning out not to be who they seem. Also there are giant plant pods from outer space.
CAT PEOPLE (1942)
Definitely the best movie ever made about were-panthers, it is remarkably effective at building tension using mostly shadows, sound design, and weird sexual undertones.
Movie Valhalla 