Movie Review: Never Take Candy from a Stranger

Movie Review: Never Take Candy from a Stranger (1960) directed by Cyril Frankel (aka “Never Take Sweets from a Stranger”) The Carter family, Peter (Patrick Allen), Sally (Gwen Watford), nine-year-old daughter Jean (Janina Faye) and Sally’s mother Martha (Alison Leggatt) have moved from Britain to Jamestown in Canada so that Peter can take up a job… Continue reading Movie Review: Never Take Candy from a Stranger

TV Review: The Batman (2004)

Batman shares a rare smile with Batgirl and Robin.

TV Review: The Batman (2004) Wealthy playboy Bruce Wayne is in his third year of a double life as the mysterious masked vigilante, Batman. Gotham City police chief Angel Rojas officially claims that “the Bat” is an urban legend in public, but to his subordinates rails against Batman for being more competent at fighting crime… Continue reading TV Review: The Batman (2004)

Movie Review: Bangkok Haunted

Paga is a skilled dancer.

Movie Review: Bangkok Haunted (2001) directed by Pisuth Praesang-Iam & Oxide Chun Pang We open on a moving truck in the Thai countryside, heading for Bangkok. The man sitting in the back taking care of the packages gets scratched by…something. The moment he realizes he’s in a horror story, he jumps out the back of the… Continue reading Movie Review: Bangkok Haunted

Magazine Review: Hooded Detective January 1942

Magazine Review: Hooded Detective January 1942 The Black Hood was one of the superheroes created for the MLJ (later Archie) Comics line, first appearing in Top-Notch Comics #9 in 1940. Matthew Kipling “Kip” Burland was originally a rookie cop who was framed for grand larceny and injured to near death by a criminal known as… Continue reading Magazine Review: Hooded Detective January 1942

Movie Review: Mad Max

Max goes hunting.

Movie Review: Mad Max (1979) directed by George Miller It is “a few years from now” and things aren’t looking good for the Victoria province of Australia. Oil supplies are drying up, economic woes are accelerating, and violent motorcycle gangs operate virtually unopposed. The Main Force Police patrol the highways, but they’re underfunded and undermanned. To… Continue reading Movie Review: Mad Max

Book Review: Enter the Jackal

Cover by Krocker Klaus

Book Review: Enter the Jackal by Jonathan W. Sweet As you may have noticed by now, I’m a fan of the pulps. But I’m certainly not the most enthusiastic one, or most knowledgeable. Some folks have made the pulp magazines their main focus. Jonathan W. Sweet runs a reprint press, Brick Pickle Pulp, and does… Continue reading Book Review: Enter the Jackal

Movie Review: Sudden Impact (1983)

Harry contemplates the difference between justice and revenge.

Movie Review: Sudden Impact (1983) directed by Clint Eastwood San Francisco is a dangerous city, as seen when a man is given a “.38 vasectomy” and a head shot in his car by his passenger. The next morning, Police Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) is not initially investigating that case. He’s in court, where a… Continue reading Movie Review: Sudden Impact (1983)

Book Review: Behind the Crimson Blind

Book Review: Behind the Crimson Blind by Carter Dickson Sir Henry Merrivale, brilliant amateur detective, barrister, baronet and holder of a medical degree, has had many exciting adventures in Britain, Europe and America. He feels that he’s earned a bit of a holiday, so he’s incognito on a flight to Tangier. Except that the very… Continue reading Book Review: Behind the Crimson Blind

Movie Review: The Vampire (1957)

Dr. Beecher just hasn't been himself lately.

Movie Review: The Vampire (1957) directed by Paul Landre Dr. Paul Beecher (John Beal) is a typical small-town doctor of the 1950s. He has an office in his house staffed by new pretty nurse Carol Butler (Coleen Gray), and also makes house calls. A widower, he lives with his young (11-12) daughter Betsy (Lydia Reed), who… Continue reading Movie Review: The Vampire (1957)

Magazine Review: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine May/June 2021

Magazine Review: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine May/June 2021 edited by Linda Landrigan In 1956, HSD Publications wanted to create a new mystery story magazine. To boost sales, they licensed the name of Alfred Hitchcock, a famous director who was then the host of a popular television show. While Mr. Hitchcock otherwise had nothing to do… Continue reading Magazine Review: Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine May/June 2021