Watched and Read - June 14, 2026

 Here's what I watched and read this past week...

 

MOVIES

Disclosure Day (2026), directed by Steven Spielberg, is classic Spielberg with outstanding performances by Colin Firth, Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, and Colman Domingo. The score by John Williams is also amazing. There is a lot of great action, especially the train sequence. It is refreshing to see a new film that has a realist look. With that being said, the CGI effects sometimes didn’t blend well with the live action. I do miss the puppeteer days. Disclosure Day is not as great as Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but the movie is definitely worth seeing, especially for its theme of empathy and its big action sequences.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), directed by Steven Spielberg, is one of my top films of all time, and one I watch ever year. I also teach it for sound studies in my intro to film course. I could write a whole post about the film’s sound and cinematography . The first time the aliens visit Barry’s house is a great example of the creative use of off-screen sound. Roy building Devil’s Tower in his living room while the television plays in the foreground is a great of example of how the long take can create an active spectatorship. Lastly, the special effects are amazing. It is a must-see film.

Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer (2026), directed by Wes Orshosk, is tough documentary to watch on Iron Maiden’s legendary singer from the first two albums. Yet, I found it to be very engaging. Although, the surgery scene was a little tough to watch.

200 Cigarettes (1999), directed by Risa Bramon Garcia. I always enjoy web of life narratives. It had been a while since I’ve seen the film, and I think it still holds up as a fun 1990s film, with a great soundtrack. The ending is too neatly tied up for me. Val and Stephie’s New York accents also didn’t ring true (I say this as someone who has a New York accent). But overall, I enjoyed watching the film again.

Tokyo Story (1953), directed by Yasujirō Ozu, is his masterpiece and a great film of world cinema. Ozu has a very distinct style of filmmaking. His films are paced leisurely, emphasizing dailiness. Today, this would be referred to as slow cinema. Ozu is also known for his depiction of 360-degree space. A great classic Japanese film.

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TV

We finished watching Legends, which is a fantastic miniseries. The acting and writing are outstanding. The first episode starts off slow, but afterwards, you will be hooked. The fact that this is based on a true story is unbelievable.

I started watching The Wonder Years again. This was a popular series when I was in high school. A little over ten years ago, I binged-watched the entire series. It is one of those older television shows that did a great job of balancing serialization and episodic storytelling. I love the episode when Kevin goes to work with his father in the first season. A great nostalgia show, with a good soundtrack. It is streaming on Hulu.

I just discovered there are new Regular Show episodes on Hulu. It’s always fun to watch Mordecai and Rigby.

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BOOKS

I am currently finishing Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. I’ve seen the movie before, so I am familiar with the story. So far, this is an amazing book, with six nested narratives.

Watched and Read - June 7, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

 

MOVIES

The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936), directed by Jean Renoir. This week I started watching the Criterion Channel’s curation of French poetic realism. I had a seen a few films from this period, but I was curious to learn more about this movement. The Crime of Monsieur Lange is an entertaining film about a small publishing company run by Paul Batala, a shady man. I enjoyed the cast of characters. The set design is cramped and confined, which I am learning is a stylistic trait of poetic realism.

The Lower Depths (1936), directed by Jean Renoir. This is another film from Criterion’s poetic realism collection. A good drama with a great performance by Jean Gabin who plays Pepel. I particularly enjoyed the scene when Pepel becomes friends with the Baron after trying to rob him.

A Wedding (1978), directed by Robert Altman. I‘ve always wanted to see this one. What a cast of characters! Almost fifty! Carol Burnett is amazing. She should have been nominated for an Academy Award. A Wedding is not as great as Nashville or McCabe & Mrs. Miller, but this is a solid and funny film. Altman’s career in the 1970s is amazing. A Wedding is available to stream on Criterion. Don’t miss this one.

Power Ballad (2026), director by John Carney. Another great one by Carney. I’ve loved all of his film, with Sing Street being one of my favorites. Great performances by Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. Fun film with a good soundtrack.

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TV

Welcome to Wrexham. This is turning out to be a really good season. I look forward to each week’s episodes. Go Wrexham!

I watched the third episode of The Boroughs and am still enjoying it. There was a great twist at the end of this one.

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BOOKS

I finished Jacques Lacan’s first seminar. I’ve read a lot of Lacan and do have some familiarity with his concepts. It goes without saying that Lacan is very difficult to read. In Seminar I, he takes up the topics of ego psychology, speech, transference and resistance. This is also the seminar where he discusses the inverted bouquet scenario. I plan to read Seminar II which is a continuation of these topics.

 

Watched and Read - May 31, 2026

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

MOVIES

Hard Boiled (1992), directed by John Woo, might be one of the greatest action films ever made. I always show the shoot out in the tea house that opens the film to my students, and I always tell them that this is nothing compared to the hospital sequence. The long take of Tony Leung and Chow Yun-fat moving through the hospital corridors is one of the many highlights of the film.

Clockwatchers (1997), directed by Jill Sprecher, is a smartly written movie, with great performances. I particularly enjoyed how space is depicted in the film. There are a lot of shots that compress the work environment, which I think nicely parallels the existential theme of work. This is a great companion film to Office Space. It is streaming on the Criterion Channel.

Marty, Life is Short (2026), directed by Lawrence Kasdan, is good documentary on the comedian and actor Martin Short. It is hard to believe all the tragedy he faced throughout his life. Definitely worth watching.

We Bury The Dead (2026), directed by Zak Hilditch. I was mixed on this movie. I enjoyed the visuals and post-apocalyptic atmosphere, but I didn’t find it to be scary. The sound effects of teeth chattering from the zombies were a little too much for me. I had to turn the down the volume on my TV, it was so intense! But I am glad to see Daisy Ridley on screen.

Abraham’s Boys (2025), directed by Natasha Kermani, is a good movie. I read on IMDb that the film has terrible reviews, but I actually enjoyed it. It is slow paced, with a moody atmosphere. The cinematography is excellent. I particularly enjoyed the deep-focus landscapes which allows us to see the isolation of the Van Helsing family. I also enjoyed the mixture of the Western and Gothic. The film is based on a Joe Hill short story, which I’ve read. Hill is an excellent writer, and I am glad to see some of his stories making it to the screen. Abraham’s Boys might not be for everyone, especially if you are looking for lots of jump scares and fast-paced horror. But I really enjoyed Kermani’s slow cinema style adaptation of Hill’s story.

Marty Supreme (2025), directed by Josh Safdie. I really enjoyed the film’s fast-paced energy. It comes at you like a bullet train. Once you’re on board, it’s hard to get off. This is not your typical sports film. Timothée Chalamet said he watched The Hustler and The Color of Money to prepare for the role. I can see some of Tom Cruise’s Vincent from The Color of Money in Marty. It also might be one of Chalamet’s best performances. The cast of characters is great. 

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TV

Welcome to Wrexham, episode three, is another good episode of the latest season. We are introduced to more new players that might be shifting the tide. And I always enjoy the stories of the Wrexham community.

Spider-Noir. I enjoyed the first episode. I watched the color version. Next episode, I will check out the black and white version. Great cast of characters.

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BOOKS

The Philosophy of Horror, or Paradoxes of the Heart by Noël Carroll is a very good book on the horror genre. The premise is this: why does horror frighten us when we know the monster does not exist. It is what Carroll calls the paradox of horror. One of his central claims is that it’s the thought of horror that frightens us. Carroll offers lots of examples to back this up. However, his critique of psychoanalysis is weak and outdated. I recommend reading Todd McGowan’s article or his book on The Real Gaze and Slavoj Žižek’s response to Carroll and David Bordwell’s critique of psychoanalysis and Marxism in The Fright of Real Tears. Putting psychoanalysis aside, if you are interested in horror studies, this is a must-read even if you don’t agree with some of Carroll’s claims or his definition of horror.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is an amazing book. I teach Hugo in my introduction to film course but had never read the book. I definitely plan to assign the book for my Film and Literature course. If you love movies, this is a must-read.

 

 

Watched and Read - May 24, 2026

 Here's what I watched and read...

 

 

MOVIES

Used Cars (1980), directed by Robert Zemeckis. One of my favorite films that I watched growing up. Much of the humor still holds up, especially the scene when they jam the president’s speech on TV to run a commercial. And I love Toby, the dog. Fun film.

Room 237 (2012), directed by Rodney Ascher. I don’t agree with many of the interpretations and claims made in the film, but I still found it fascinating to watch. The Shining is one of my favorite films, and I even wrote a chapter about it in my book, Cinema of Confinement. The documentary is worth checking out, especially the part where they play the film forward and backwards at the same time. But if you are a Kubrick fan, you might find yourself yelling at your TV or computer, or however we watch things these days.

Fear and Desire (1952), directed by Stanley Kubrick. This is the first film directed by Kubrick, which he financed himself. It is nowhere near the great films he would later make, but it is worth seeing, even with all its flaws and mistakes. For one, the visuals are great - there is something strange about the way Kubrick frames and composes the forest. There are also some interesting experiments with editing. Lastly, Kubrick’s first film takes up a topic that he would return to in Paths of Glory and Full Metal Jacket: the psychological impact of war on the individual. Kino Lorber put out the restored version (70 minutes) a few years ago. Definitely worth the watch. 

 

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TV

I watched the first episode of The Burroughs and thought it was pretty good. What held my attention was Alfred Molina. He is just an amazing actor, and he plays the part with authenticity. In addition to Molina, there are other great actors in the series, such as Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, and Clarke Peters, to name a few, that make it worth watching. It definitely has an old-school Spielberg vibe from the early 1980s.

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BOOKS

See my post on Stephen King’s From a Buick 8.

I am almost done reading Noël Carroll’s book, The Philosophy of Horror, or Paradoxes of the Heart, which I am very much enjoying.

 

 

Newsletter #6

Hope everyone is doing well and getting excited for summer. Speaking of summer….

My Lovely Dark Summer:

It is now available to purchase. It’s also available on Kindle Unlimited.

I received two very nice reviews, one from Kirkus Reviews and Readers’ Favorite.

I am very excited for everyone to read it.

Hitchcock Project:

The proposal and writing sample have been sent. Now I am “patiently” waiting for the reviews. In the meantime, I am starting to write the conclusion.

Run to the Future:

This is the second Charlie One book, and I am very happy with the draft I’ve written. There’s a good chance I’ll have it ready in 2027.

Dark Escape:

This will be the fourth book in the Zworsky’s Children series. The story follows Robbie from Texas’s escape from the Circle. The story parallels Rise of the Creepers. I think I can have it ready in 2027.

Flight Unknown:

I went over 100 ratings on Amazon! I am very thankful for the ratings and reviews.

Movies and Books Read:

You can always read what I’m watching and reading on my Substack page.

Well, that’s it for me.

Enjoy the summer.

Keep reading. Watch movies.

Tom C.

www.tomconnellyfiction.com

 

From a Buick 8 and the Horror of the Unknown

 

I was going to include this in my watched and read, but decided it deserves its own post.

I finished Stephen King’s From a Buick 8 this week, which was my second time reading it. The setting of the story is Pennsylvania. It is an oral account of a Buick abandoned at a gas station by a mysterious man who randomly disappeared. “Oil’s fine!” The car is towed to a state trooper barracks (Troop D) and stored in Shed B. The story is more about atmosphere than plot. As I wrote in my last post, King does not offer much specificity about where the car came from and why strange things emerge out of it (although I like the idea of it coming from Mid-World).

There is, however, a parallel between the unexpected death of Curtis Wilcox and the mystery of the Buick. Curtis died while on duty. His teen son, Ned, likes to hang around the barracks as a way to be close to his deceased father. State trooper Sandy Dearborn, who does most of the storytelling, believes Ned is looking for answers, just as we are looking for answers that would explain the mystery of the Buick. There are no answers, and that’s where the heart of horror resides in this tale.

Horror is about shattering the order of things, which can take on various forms, such as monsters or creatures. Or as Paul Wells puts it, “In whatever way the monster is conceived and acts . . . it serves to operate as a mode of disruption and breakdown in the status quo” (9). The Buick is unknowable and defies explanation. In a way, the Buick is similar to movies like The Birds (1963) and Jaws (1975), where something unexplainable defies the laws of nature and invades the everyday.  

 

 

But that does not stop Troop D’s curiosity to know and make sense of the Buick. Sandy recounts how they took pictures and videotaped the odd things that came out of the Buick’s trunk. They even dissect a strange-looking bat, an entity that King describes as the Buick giving birth to. In short, they try to make meaning where no meaning is to be had. Even as the troopers carry on with their duties, the Buick continues to haunt them, especially Curtis, who becomes obsessed with figuring out its mystery. Is it a coincidence that the person who killed Curtis was the person who worked at the gas station when they first discovered the Buick? Or is there a direct connection between the two? The answer remains unknown.

King writes in the author’s note that he completed the first draft shortly before his accident in the summer of 1999. For that reason, I try not to look too much into the connection between the two, even though it is hard not to. I think From a Buick 8 is an amazing novel. What the story doesn’t reveal, reveals a lot.

Watched and Read - May 17, 2026

 Here's what I watched and read last week....

 

MOVIES

Against All Odds (1984), directed by Taylor Hackford, is based on the classic film noir, Out of the Past. The film started off on a good note, then petered out. I did not feel the chemistry between Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward. But Richard Widmark, who acted in many film noirs of the past, is worth the watch.

Kedi (2016), directed by Ceyda Torun, is a good documentary about cats that roam the streets in Istanbul. I was surprised that all the cats depicted in the documentary looked well cared for and well-fed. Very cool. Meow.

Lumière! Le Cinema (2025), directed by Thierry Frémaux, is one of the best films I’ve seen in a while. The documentary provides not only a history of the beginnings of moving images but also offers stunning images of France in the late 19th century. Watching this documentary is like being in a time machine. If you love movies, this is a must-watch.

Breathless (1983), directed by Jim McBride. Caught this on the Criterion Channel. This was my second time seeing it. The first was a surreal experience because I didn’t think it was possible that someone could actually adapt Godard’s masterpiece. So on the second viewing, I was prepared, and I really enjoyed it. Richard Gere gives an amazing performance. The visuals are spectacular, especially the surreal traveling matte car scenes. And I love seeing all the real locations in L.A. Tarantino apparently loves the movie, and you can definitely see its influence in Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. This is a hidden gem of the 1980s. Just don’t think about Godard’s film when you watch it.

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TV

The first episode of the new season of Welcome to Wrexham is really good and very emotional. Lots of new players this season. The stakes are once again high for Wrexham.

I watched the first episode of Legends, which I very much enjoyed. I’ll watch anything with Steve Coogan. It’s streaming on Netflix.

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BOOKS

I am currently rereading Stephen King’s From a Buick 8. I love the story’s atmosphere. King takes full advantage of his Lovecraft influence and sense of cosmic horror by not explaining what the Buick is, why strange things emerge out of it, or where it came from. I want to think the Buick was once owned by The Stand’s Randall Flagg. Or maybe it’s from Mid-World.