Watched and Read - December 28, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week… 

 

MOVIES

Wake Up Dead Man (2025), directed by Rian Johnson, is a fun and engaging whodunit. I liked it much more than Glass Onion. Glenn Close is terrific and deserves an Oscar nomination, and Johnson should also be recognized for his writing.

Bugonia (2025), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, was one I enjoyed—much more than Poor Things. Having written a book on confinement cinema, it was especially cool to see Bugonia embody many of the characteristics I discuss.

The Piano Teacher (2001), directed by Michael Haneke, is a tough film to watch, but it is very good. Some moments reminded me of Caché, particularly in the way Haneke casually depicts violence. This is a film that will stay with me for a long time.

Metropolitan (1990) is a very good comedy directed by Whit Stillman. The film was released just as independent filmmaking was beginning to take off in the United States. Its clever dialogue is one of its strongest components, so it’s no surprise that the film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. What I especially love, though, is the upper-class setting Stillman creates on such a low budget. This is what separates Metropolitan from other indie films of the period, such as Richard Linklater’s Slacker (1991) or Kevin Smith’s Clerks (1994).

The Grandmaster (2013), directed by Wong Kar-wai, is a beautiful martial arts film about Ip Man (Tony Leung). The fight sequences are awesome, and both Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi are excellent. At times, I found myself lost or confused by the film’s plotting, even on this second viewing. My reaction is similar to how I once felt about the Coen brothers’ Miller’s Crossing, which I now consider one of their masterpieces, though I didn’t at first. I’m beginning to feel the same way about The Grandmaster, which makes me want to watch it again.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024) is a very cool animated film set 200 years before the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I had to look up some of the names and places of Middle-earth to re-familiarize myself with Tolkien’s fantasy world.

Christmas Vacation (1989). I watch it every Christmas and still love it. Chevy Chase buying lingerie is one of my favorite scenes, and of course I love the moment when he loses it after he doesn’t get his bonus.

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TV

I very much enjoyed Netflix’s The Beast in Me. It has some great Hitchcockian moments and plenty of cool twists. The series reminded me of 1990s thrillers such as Primal Fear, The Game, and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Arguably, the best thing about the miniseries is Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys—both performances are excellent.

Plubribus is definitely one of the best TV shows of the year. Vince Gilligan has created an intriguing and highly engaging story, and I can’t wait for the next season.

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BOOKS

We Live Here Now (2025) by Sarah Pinborough is an excellent Gothic supernatural novel and a new take on the haunted house narrative. I won’t say too much about the plot, but I love the way the book shifts points of view between Emily and Freddie—very effective. The title feels like an homage to Shirley Jackson. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I’m so glad Stephen King recommended it.

Surplus Enjoyment (2022) by Slavoj Žižek is one of his best books since Sex and the Failed Absolute. Surplus enjoyment is a Lacanian notion: enjoyment always involves suffering—enjoying too much—or what Lacan calls jouissance. For example, Žižek views conspiracy theorists as a form of surplus enjoyment. They doubt all existing theories and then construct one grand explanation, which, for Žižek, gives them an overwhelming sense of enjoyment. But it is also detrimental to the big Other—the symbolic structures that hold society together. This is why jouissance is linked to the death drive: suffering for one’s enjoyment. Žižek offers many other examples, but the highlight of the book is his reading of Todd Phillips’ Joker.

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe might be one of my favorite reads this year. It chronicles Crowe’s experiences writing for Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s. If you love classic rock, this is a must-read. I also recommend Crowe’s book on filmmaker Billy Wilder.

Watched and Read - December 21, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read…

MOVIES

 

Eyes Wide Shut (1999), directed by Stanley Kubrick. The Criterion Blu-ray looks amazing. I love this film so much and think it’s one of Kubrick’s most personal films. The second disc has lots of extras. I really enjoyed hearing Larry Smith, the DP, talk about how he lit the film. The interview with Lisa Leone is great as well. 

American Psycho (2000), directed by Mary Harron, is a funny and disturbing film about Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), a yuppie who works on Wall Street and also happens to be a serial killer. I love the ambiguity of Bateman’s character. We never know for sure whether he imagines the violence he inflicts on his victims or if it’s real. There are clues to this throughout the film, but no clear answers. A cult classic.

Megadoc (2025), directed by Mike Figgis, is a documentary about the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. The documentary follows the film’s entire production. I would have loved to see how Coppola edited the film and how it was released into theaters, but that’s not what the documentary is about. Still, I very much enjoyed it. Megalopolis, on the other hand, is kind of a mess that I nonetheless somewhat enjoyed. Who knows? Maybe we’ll view it differently in twenty years.

Maggie’s Plan (2015), directed by Rebecca Miller, is a romantic comedy with some funny moments. The casting is strong, although most of the characters are unlikable. It was also cool to see Žižek referenced, though I highly doubt that Ethan Hawke’s character loves Žižek’s books.

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TV

I finished the fifth season of Slow Horses and thought it was outstanding. It might be one of my favorite seasons. The unfortunate thing is that now I have to wait until next year for season six.

I very much enjoyed Welcome to Derry. At first, I thought Pennywise would lose its scare factor, but it didn’t. The writers came up with many clever ideas that build on and complement King’s novel while still creating scary moments.

The Beast in Me. I’m really enjoying this so far. The setup is great. The chemistry between Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys is really good. I can’t wait to watch more episodes.

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BOOKS

I am currently reading Slavoj Žižek’s Surplus Enjoyment, which has been excellent so far. I’m also halfway through Cameron Crowe’s The Uncool, which I am immensely enjoying.

Watched and Read - December 14, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

 

MOVIES

Jay Kelly (2025), directed by Noah Baumbach, is an excellent film, featuring strong performances by Adam Sandler and Laura Dern. It is definitely one of George Clooney’s best acting roles since The Descendants. The film reminded me somewhat of The Player, as well as 8½ and perhaps even Death in Venice. It is definitely one of the top films of 2025.

The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema (2006), directed by Sophie Fiennes, is a three-part documentary featuring philosopher Slavoj Žižek, who analyzes a range of films through the lens of psychoanalytic theory. I have always found the sections on the gaze, fantasy, and ontology the most fascinating. I am particularly drawn to his argument that reality is ontologically incomplete and that we are always haunted by an ultimate version of ourselves. As I am finishing my book on Hitchcock, I wanted to revisit the documentary, since many of the concepts Žižek discusses are central to my work.

The Million Dollar Hotel (2000), directed by Wim Wenders, is another film featured on the Criterion Channel as part of a collection centered on hotels. The film follows an ensemble cast of eclectic characters who live in a hotel. Filmed at the Rosslyn Hotel in Los Angeles, the plot involves the murder of one of the residents, though the film is less a traditional whodunit than an atmospheric character study centered on Tom Tom (Jeremy Davies) and Eloise (Milla Jovovich). Bono shares a story credit, and U2 contributes several songs to the soundtrack. It takes some time to adjust to Davies’s unusual performance, and the film is slow-paced—as most of Wenders’s films are. While it is nowhere near as great as Paris, Texas or Wings of Desire, or even Perfect Days, which I loved, it is still worth checking out.

My Blueberry Nights (2007) is not as strong as Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love or Chungking Express, but it is still worth seeing, especially for Darius Khondji’s awesome cinematography.

Mahjong (1996) is the last Edward Yang film I watched on the Criterion Channel, and I enjoyed it. Of all the Yang films I’ve seen so far, this one has the most humor.

 

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TV

I finished the fourth season of Slow Horses and found it the toughest to watch. As always, there are big surprises and strong performances, but this is by far the most violent season.

 

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BOOKS

I’m almost finished reading Slavoj Žižek’s Quantum History: A New Materialist Philosophy (2025). Žižek offers some intriguing interpretations of ontology through the lens of quantum mechanics. He has been writing on this topic for some time, and I’ve never fully understood his arguments before, but I think I finally grasp what he’s getting at this time. I’ll try to write a review of the book once I’m finished.

 

Watched and Read - December 7, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

MOVIES

Four Rooms (1995) is featured on the Criterion Channel in a collection of films that take place in hotels. I hadn’t seen it in a long time and thought it would be fun to revisit. It’s not a very good movie. The sets and the lighting are awful—the whole thing feels thrown together and rushed. The only segment worth checking out is Robert Rodriguez’s.

Somewhere (2010), directed by Sofia Coppola, is a film about Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff), a movie star going through an existential crisis. Recently divorced, he has an eleven-year-old daughter, Cleo, played by Elle Fanning. He lives at the Chateau Marmont, the famous hotel in Los Angeles. The film is slow-paced and beautifully meditative, emphasizing atmosphere over plot. It’s a great companion piece to Lost in Translation.

 

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TV

I finished season three of Slow Horses and loved it. I don’t want to spoil anything if you haven’t seen it, but I really liked the time frame of this season. As I’ve mentioned before, there are lots of twists and turns, along with great performances. A very cool series.

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BOOKS

Keith Rosson’s Coffin Road is a gritty vampire story set in the 1970s. Duane Minor has recently returned from Vietnam and is struggling with the traumas of war. He works at a bar run by his in-laws while caring for his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia, who is also battling her own traumatic past. A major event occurs that changes Duane’s life forever. I love Rosson’s visceral writing style—each sentence has a film noir–like punch to it, and some of the horror is gruesome. I definitely recommend this novel, as well as his recent book series Fever House and Devil by Name.

Watched and Read - November 30, 2025

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

MOVIES

Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood (2022) is an animated film that takes place in 1969, not long before Apollo 11 lands on the moon. The story is told through the eyes of Stanley, a fourth grader living in the Houston suburbs. What I loved about the film are the small details Linklater captures from the era—food, TV shows, board games, pop music, and more. Linklater’s emphasis on the everyday is never boring; I found myself completely absorbed by the film.

Sangre Del Toro (2025) is a documentary about filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and his love of horror. I’ve heard del Toro speak many times on horror and the Gothic—especially in his video on Bleak House—but this is by far the most in-depth exploration of his passion for the genre.

Big Eyes (2014) tells the true story of Margaret Keane, an artist known for her paintings of figures with oversized eyes. It’s a low budgeted film directed by Tim Burton, and Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz deliver excellent performances—I’m surprised they weren’t nominated for Academy Awards. The costumes and sets are outstanding. The court sequence is a bit over the top, but overall I really enjoyed watching Burton’s film.

Marvin’s Room (1996) is a powerhouse of actors, starring Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro. It’s a strong story with excellent performances, particularly from DiCaprio, who would go on to become a global star later in the 1990s.

Quadrophenia (1979) is based on The Who’s 1973 rock opera and follows Jimmy, a Mod living in 1960s England. Whereas Ken Russell’s Tommy (1975) uses surrealist imagery to capture The Who’s first rock opera, Quadrophenia emphasizes realism and working-class grit. Phil Daniels convincingly embodies Jimmy’s schizophrenia, and it was cool to see a young Sting play the Ace Face. An excellent film from one of my all-time favorite bands.

Eddington (2025). Ari Aster’s new film is kind of a mess. There are some funny moments, and I always love seeing Joaquin Phoenix on screen, but it felt like I was watching two different films. The mix of graphic violence and comedy didn’t work for me. And, like Beau Is Afraid, the movie went on too long.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012). I watched the Criterion edition, which looks amazing. There are some great extras, including a making-of feature. Moonrise, along with The Grand Budapest Hotel, represents Wes Anderson at his best.

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TV

I finished the first and second seasons of Slow Horses. Both seasons were exciting. I love the labyrinthine storytelling, with all its twists and turns. The characters from Slough House are complex and interesting, especially Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). I’m looking forward to season 3.

Watching season 5 of Stranger Things took me a little time to settle into the story, especially while trying to ignore how much older the characters have gotten. But I’m really enjoying it. It definitely feels like the show is moving toward its endgame. I love the crosscutting between the different storylines—it’s such an engaging series. I just wish they hadn’t broken the season into parts.

Welcome to Derry has a Stranger Things vibe but is much darker. They just introduced an element from Doctor Sleep connected to Dick Hallorann’s character, which I won’t spoil. There are only three episodes left, and I’m curious to see how it will all come together.

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BOOKS

King Sorrow is Joe Hill’s latest novel and might be one of his best. If you haven’t read it, I won’t say much about the plot, but there’s definitely a dragon involved—something the cover makes clear. The novel is epic in both scope and storytelling, blending fantasy and horror with medieval scholarship. There’s plenty of humor, but it’s never snarky, and I love all the references to popular culture. I’ve read most of Hill’s work and think he’s one of the best descriptive writers out there. Don’t be intimidated by the novel’s length—it’s never boring.

 

 

Watched and Read - November 23, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

MOVIES

It’s Impossible to Plow by Reading Books (1988) is Richard Linklater’s first film, which he shot on 8mm. It follows a year in Linklater’s life, involving travel to visit a friend, riding trains, preparing dinner, watching television, and more. The film grew on me as I found myself curious about what he would do next. It’s a film you have to lean into and let its language draw you in. Plow’s slow pace and spontaneity contain the seeds of Slacker (1991), the film that would launch Linklater’s career.

Days of Heaven (1978) is another beautiful and haunting film by Terence Malick. The cinematography is stunning—one of those films you could watch with the sound off and still be mesmerized by the images alone. It’s hard to believe Malick didn’t make another film until The Thin Red Line, nearly 20 years later.

Frenzy (1972). I watched it again for research, as the film provides the conclusion of my manuscript on Alfred Hitchcock. Although there is much to appreciate about Hitchcock’s final film, Family Plot, Frenzy is truly his last great work—some even call it his final masterpiece. My research focuses on the expression of horror and the Gothic in his films. My book proposal is almost ready, and I’ll be sharing updates as the process unfolds. It’s been an amazing journey writing about Hitch.

 

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TV

Slow Horses is an exciting series with some great twists. Gary Oldman’s performance is outstanding, and I love Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner. I’m looking forward to watching more episodes.

Welcome to Derry: Episode four was probably the least action-packed of the episodes so far this season, but it served an important purpose in bringing us closer to Pennywise and setting up the stakes for the rest of the season, especially for Charlotte (Taylour Paige), who is turning out to be a great character. Lastly, that eye-horror scene was gruesome. Eek!

I watched the fourth episode of Pluribus and I’m getting the same feelings I had when I first watched Breaking Bad. Gilligan does such a great job sustaining my curiosity and building anticipation about what’s going to happen next to Carol (Rhea Seehorn). Just like with Breaking Bad, I wish I didn’t have to wait each week for the next episode.

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BOOKS

The Subject of Torture by Hilary Neroni. A great read, especially for those interested in psychoanalytic theory and media. Her writing is highly accessible and supported by strong examples. See my post.

The Subject of Torture - Book Review

 

Hilary Neroni’s book explores depictions of torture in popular media. The introduction begins by contrasting biopower with the psychoanalytic notion of the desiring subject. Biopolitics focuses on the body, such as Giorgio Agamben notion of bare life, where truth is located in the body itself. In contrast, psychoanalysis emphasizes the divided subject and unconscious desire, where truth resides in desire and must be read and interpreted.  

 

According to Neroni, this is what shows such as Alias tap into. Instead of relying on the torture of bodies to extract truth, as in 24 with Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), Alias draws out the subject’s unconscious desire through Sydney’s (Jennifer Garner) staged fictions and performed identities. By doing so, Sydney can read and interpret the subject’s desire to uncover the truth, rather than depending on bodily torture.

 

Neroni’s book is a great read, especially for those interested in psychoanalytic theory and media. Her writing is highly accessible and supported by strong examples. I highly recommend it.

 

 

Watched and Read - November 16, 2025

 Here's what I watched and read last week:

MOVIES

A Better Tomorrow 2 (1987) is another high-octane action film from John Woo. It’s not as good as the first movie, but I still enjoyed it. I especially loved Woo’s depiction of Americans in the New York sequence—so over the top! I couldn’t stop laughing.

The Blue Gardenia (1953) is part of Criterion’s “blackout” noir theme. I read online that it’s one of Fritz Lang’s “newspaper noirs,” and I really enjoyed it. There’s a good twist at the end, and Anne Baxter gives a great performance.

Guilty Bystander (1950) was the last film I watched from Criterion’s “blackout” noir theme. I didn’t really connect with it, but I thought the subway sequence was very well done.

Badlands (1973) is a haunting and poetic film by Terrence Malick. The juxtaposition of Kit’s (Martin Sheen) violent killing spree with the sprawling Midwest landscape is deeply unsettling. Malick’s first film is one of his best.

Nouvelle Vague (2025) is an excellent and fun new film by Richard Linklater that wonderfully and beautifully recreates Jean-Luc Godard’s making of Breathless (1960). The French New Wave is one of the most significant movements in the history of cinema, and I thought Linklater did a wonderful job capturing the spirit and spontaneity of these filmmakers.

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TV

We finished Death by Lightning. This was such an awesome series with great performances. I enjoyed learning about Garfield and what led to his assassination.

Welcome to Derry, episode 3. The series keeps getting better with each episode. The writers are doing a great job working from King’s book while creating new and very interesting stories. It also has a great ensemble cast. I particularly enjoyed Rose and Francis’s relationship.

I love Vince Gilligan’s new series Pluribus. The tone and style are very similar to Breaking Bad, but it’s science fiction. It definitely gave me an Invasion of the Body Snatchers vibe, but with humor. Rhea Seehorn gives an outstanding performance.

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BOOKS

I am currently rereading Hilary Neroni’s book The Subject of Torture. It’s great revisiting it, and it offers some excellent insights into the fantasy of torture in media. I’ll write and post a review once I’m finished.

I halfway through Joe Hill’s book King Sorrow and loving it. This might be his best book yet.

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ME NEWS

My new book, Last Stand, is now available for purchase. It is the third and final book in the Zworsky’s Children series.

Watched and Read - November 9, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week:

MOVIES

Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere (2025) centers on Bruce Springsteen as he writes the songs that would eventually become the albums Nebraska and Born in the U.S.A. Even if you’re not a Springsteen fan, this is a must-see for musicians. Scott Cooper creates a moody atmosphere that mirrors the dissonant, echoing sound Springsteen captured on the cassette recordings of his songs. I also loved the detail that the cassette had no case—it perfectly reflects the raw realism Springsteen was striving for in these sessions. Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong both deserve award nominations for their performances. An excellent film.

Frankenstein (2025) is an outstanding film by Guillermo del Toro. I’d rank it right alongside The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth. The film has a richly Gothic atmosphere and beautifully written dialogue. Every performance is excellent—especially Jacob Elordi, who delivers a haunting portrayal of the “monster.”

 

 

Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost (2025) is an intimate documentary about Ben Stiller’s parents. I didn’t realize they were such a prominent comedy duo during the early days of television. I also enjoyed learning about Ben Stiller’s childhood with famous parents, though it was sad hearing him talk about his own marital struggles, some of which mirrored those of his parents.

Who Killed the Montreal Expos (2025) brought back a lot of memories for me. I was living in Burlington, Vermont, and could watch the Expos on TV before they moved to D.C. to become the Nationals. I remember how sad it was to see such low attendance at the stadium, unless the Red Sox were playing. I think the documentary would have benefited from telling the story chronologically rather than jumping around, but overall, I really enjoyed it.

Superman (2025) features some great secondary characters, especially Mister Terrific, Green Lantern, and Krypto the dog. James Gunn’s strength has always been portraying misfits, as seen in Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, which is why I found his take on Superman less engaging. He also relied on Krypto a bit too often to get Superman out of tough situations. However, I thought Techmacher’s secret relationship with Jimmy Olsen was hilarious.

Black Angel (1946). The Criterion Channel is curating a series of noir films centered on the theme of “blackout.” This one has a strong setup and a great twist at the end. I always love seeing Peter Lorre. The story is adapted from a novel by Cornell Woolrich, who also wrote the short story “It Had to Be Murder,” which Rear Window was based on.

Framed (1947). This film is another entry in Criterion’s “blackout” noir series. Mike Lambert (Glenn Ford) is a drifter and heavy drinker who winds up in a small town looking for work, only to get caught up in femme fatale Paula Craig’s (Janis Carter) scheme involving a banker who has embezzled two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I always enjoy watching Ford. Framed doesn’t quite measure up to Gilda, The Big Heat, or Human Desire, which starred Ford, but it’s still worth checking out.

Blackout (1954) is another entry in Criterion’s “blackout” noir series. I didn’t really connect with this one, but it was interesting to learn that it was made by Hammer Productions, best known for its classic horror films.

Deadline at Dawn (1946) is the fourth film I’ve watched from Criterion’s “blackout” noir series. It’s not a bad movie and has a solid twist at the end. The dialogue, written by Clifford Odets, is sharp, and I liked that the story unfolds entirely over the course of one night.

 

 

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TV

Death by Lighting (2025). I’m really enjoying this series. Michael Shannon is great, but I am still adjusting to Matthew Macfayden as Charles Guiteau who plays the role with intense mania. I hate to admit this, but I know little about James Garfield, only that he was assassinated shortly into his presidency. So, I’m finding this series fascinating, and its making me want to learn more about him, which I think is a mark of a good historical drama.

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BOOKS

Tales from the Crypt Vol. 2: Another great volume of EC horror comics from the 1950s. It was a lot of fun to read during the Halloween season.

I am currently reading Joe Hill’s King Sorrow, which I am thoroughly enjoying. It’s a long book, and I probably won’t finish it until December, but it’s very engaging.

 

Watched and Read - November 2, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week….

MOVIES

Weapons (2025) is an excellent film that challenged my formal expectations. I was surprised by Zach Cregger’s non-linear approach to storytelling, and I didn’t expect such a strong blend of humor and disturbing horror. Having done extensive research on Alfred Hitchcock—who often inserted jokes into his films—I’ve learned that movies combining humor and horror tend to create an uncertain spectatorship, preventing viewers from finding a secure foothold. I certainly found this to be the case with Weapons. It’s definitely one of the best films I’ve seen this year.

Les Diaboliques (1955), directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, is a significant film in the horror genre. Hitchcock screened it several times while making Vertigo, which was based on a novel by the same authors who wrote Les Diaboliques. The Criterion Channel has an excellent video about it. I won’t say much about the film itself—it’s best experienced without spoilers—but I highly recommend it. I also suggest Clouzot’s other masterpiece, The Wages of Fear (1953), which inspired William Friedkin’s Sorcerer (another masterpiece).

The Shining (1980) is the film that inspired me to study cinema. I watch it every year during Halloween. Earlier this year, I read TASCHEN’s book on the making of the film, which I highly recommend. I also wrote a chapter about The Shining as an example of “confinement cinema” in my own book.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004) is a hilarious indie comedy. I love its offbeat humor, and the relationships between the characters work wonderfully. And, of course, Napoleon’s dance to Jamiroquai is an absolute classic. “Tina, eat your food!”

A House of Dynamite (2025) is an intense film. I love the way Bigelow structured the story. The performances are excellent, especially those by Idris Elba and Jared Harris. The film invites us to consider a powerful question: if you were in the President’s position—knowing a missile was heading toward one of our major cities and could wipe out millions of people—what would you do?

 

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TV

Mr. Scorsese (2025) is an excellent documentary about one of our greatest filmmakers. I was surprised by how much I learned, especially about his struggles during the late 1970s and into the 1980s, when the power of the auteur was being crushed by the major studios. My only complaint is that I wish there were more episodes!

It: Welcome to Derry (2025). I’ve watched the first two episodes and thought they were very good. The series looks and feels very much like the It movies that Muschietti directed, and it features some impressive special effects. Having read the novel, I’m curious to see how the show incorporates the backstories King wrote. I think the ending of episode two alluded to one of those stories. So far, I’m really enjoying it.

Dept. Q (2025). The first season had lots of great twists. Carl, Rose, Akram, and James work really well as a team, though at times it was a bit hard to keep track of everything—especially with no recaps at the start of each episode. Still, I’m definitely looking forward to the next season.

Sticks (2025). I watched the first episode and thought it was okay. There wasn’t anything particularly surprising about it, but I really enjoyed seeing Owen Wilson and Marc Maron together.

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966). We watch it every year on Halloween. I love the expressionistic animation—it really captures the fall vibes. The jazz score by Vince Guaraldi is also amazing. Truly a classic.

 

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BOOKS

These are the books I finished this week. Some I had been reading over the past few weeks.

Universality and Identity Politics by Todd McGowan. McGowan’s central claim is that what binds us all together in the social order is that we all don’t belong. In other words, he identifies non-belonging as the site of the universal. McGowan makes a strong case that we should not abandon the universal, because it is also the site of our freedom. The concept is challenging, as we can never fully reach the universal—only strive toward it. The key, he suggests, is to detach from particularity or identity politics. Throughout the book, McGowan supports his argument with numerous examples from history and cinema.

The Bewitching by Silvia Garcia-Moreno is the third book I’ve read by her. I loved Mexican Gothic and The Daughter of Dr. Moreau, and I really enjoyed this new book, which centers on witches and sorcerers. I particularly appreciated the way the story is structured—it made the book very engaging.

Anxiety (Seminar X) by Jacques Lacan. It goes without saying that Lacan is notoriously difficult to read, but this seminar was a little bit easier to digest than his others. In it, he introduces a fundamental concept: objet a (the object cause of desire). The objet a creates lack for the subject when one enters the symbolic order. It is what prevents the subject from ever being fully identical with oneself, producing what Lacan calls the split subject. One of Lacan’s central claims is that anxiety arises from the “lack of lack.” If you want to explore objet a further, I discuss it in more detail on my blog. For beginners, I highly recommend Todd McGowan’s introductory book on Lacan or Slavoj Žižek’s Looking Awry.

 

Watched and Read - October 26, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

MOVIES

A Confucian Confusion (1994). Criterion is currently featuring Edward Yang’s films on their channel, and I’ve seen almost all of them. I enjoyed A Confucian Confusion—maybe not as much as some of his other films—but, like Yang’s other work, I enjoy his ensemble cast of characters with minimal plot. Dennis Lim also provides a great introduction to Yang’s films on the Criterion Channel. I highly recommend Yi Yi if you’re interested in exploring his work.

A Better Tomorrow (1986). A great crime film by John Woo, featuring plenty of stylish action sequences that would come to define his signature style. I also enjoyed the dynamic relationship between Ti Lung and Chow Yun-fat.

Carnival of Souls (1962). A moody, atmospheric horror film featuring a haunting organ score. Much of it reminded me of The Seventh Seal, particularly the ending. It’s available to watch on the Criterion Channel.

War of the Worlds (2005). I love Spielberg’s blending of realism and CGI. The action sequences are incredible, especially the ferry scene. In my book Capturing Digital Media, I discuss the long take of Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) and his family escaping New Jersey—a brilliant example of using CGI effectively without going overboard. I also love how the film shifts from expansive outdoor spaces to the claustrophobic basement scenes with Harlan (Tim Robbins). It’s one of the scariest moments in the film and a perfect example of what Hitchcock called “pure cinema.”

The Craft (1996). A solid teen witch story. I’d only seen parts of it a long time ago, but watching it now definitely gave me strong 1990s nostalgia vibes. Some of the horror elements surprised me, especially during the film’s climax. It was also nice to recognize all the Los Angeles locations—I wish more movies were still shot here.

 

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TV

We finished Task and thought it was outstanding. It’s definitely one of the best television shows I’ve watched this year. The performances were incredible, and the locations added a great sense of realism and atmosphere. I’m so glad HBO continues to produce such high-quality television.

The Endfield Poltergeist (2023). A fascinating and genuinely scary documentary on Apple TV+. At first, it was a bit hard to adjust to the reenactments paired with the real audio recordings from Maurice Grosse, but it turned out to be a really well-made and chilling documentary. Truly scary!

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BOOKS

Tales From The Crypt Vol 1. I’ve been reading these comics over the past few months, and they’re so much fun. It’s amazing how EC came up with so many different stories—some of them are even pretty funny. A great read for the Halloween season!

 

Watched and Read - October 19, 2025

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

MOVIES

The Killer (1989) is one of my favorite John Woo films, featuring some of his best action sequences. If you enjoy over-the-top action done with artistry, this movie is definitely worth checking out. Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets was a major influence, and you can also see the impact of Sam Peckinpah in Woo’s use of slow-motion violence.

The Conjuring 2 (2016) I really enjoyed this film and found it almost as scary as the first one. It had plenty of great scares throughout. The highlight for me was Lorraine’s encounter with the nun and the painting at her home — a chilling scene.

¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! (2024). A very good documentary about South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker buying and renovating Casa Bonita, a beloved restaurant in Colorado.

Frankenweenie (2012). I was deeply moved by Tim Burton’s film. My dog passed away earlier this year, so the story really hit home. I also loved all the references to classic films, especially Universal Horror and Godzilla. This is truly a hidden gem in Burton’s filmography.

Mars Attacks! (1996). This feels like one of those movies you either love or don’t — and I absolutely love it. I think it’s hilarious and a great follow-up to Burton’s masterpiece Ed Wood. Like Frankenweenie, it’s full of fun callbacks to 1950s sci-fi and the paranoia films of that era. Apparently, Jack Nicholson even wanted to play more than the two roles he already had! Also great to spot a young Jack Black. It was a lot of fun revisiting this one.

Dark Shadows (2012). This film is visually stunning, but I felt the story could have been stronger. The comedy didn’t always land, especially following the dark and dramatic prologue. That said, I loved the Gothic imagery, and I thought Johnny Depp gave a strong performance.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016). As expected, Burton’s visuals are impressive—especially his Gothic interpretation of the Peregrine home. However, the climax veered a bit into CGI overload. I felt the story could have been stronger overall; the narrative stakes for Asa Butterfield’s character never fully landed for me. That said, I did enjoy the time-loop elements—they added an intriguing layer to the film.

Sleepy Hallow (1999). I had mixed feelings when I first saw this back in 1999. Having grown up in the Hudson Valley, I wanted the setting to feel more authentic to the region I knew. But on rewatch, I really appreciated how Burton reimagined Sleepy Hollow. The set design is incredible, and Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography is stunning.

I also liked that the story is set not long after the founding of the United States, around the turn of the 19th century. I interpreted it as a moment of transition—moving toward modernity—which Johnny Depp’s character embodies through his tools, gadgets, and early forensic methods. I’m glad I revisited it. Heads will roll…

 

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TV

Task. The show keeps getting better every week. This week brought another surprise, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they wrap it up. It’s definitely one of the best television shows I’ve watched this year.

Dept. Q. Episode one and two. I really like this so far. I’ve been a fan of Scott Frank’s work going all the way back to Out of Sight and Minority Report. The setting is well done, and I’m curious to see how they solve the case.

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BOOKS

Criss-Cross: The Making of Alfred Hithcock’s Dazzling, Subversive Masterpiece Strangers on a Train by Stephen Rebello. A good read overall. Having read quite a bit about Hitchcock, I felt much of what Rebello covers has been explored by other writers before. I thought the sections on Raymond Chandler and the film’s music could have been shorter. The most interesting part of the book for me was the production of the film. Still, it’s definitely worth checking out if you love Strangers on a Train. I also highly recommend Rebello’s Making of Psycho.

Tim Burton: The Iconic Filmmaker and His Work by Ian Nathan. I’ve read quite a few of Ian Nathan’s books on directors, and they’re always fun to read. This is a new edition focused on Tim Burton. As you can probably tell from what I’ve been watching this week, I’ve been revisiting a lot of his movies—especially ones I hadn’t seen before or hadn’t watched in a while.

 

Newsletter #4

 Happy autumn!

Zworsky’s Children

Here it is. Last Stand is now available to pre-order! The paperback and hardcover will be available to purchase on November 11.

 

Thank you to Stuart Bache for designing another amazing cover. A huge thank you as well to Lynda at Easy Reader Editing for copyediting the book. I’m so excited to share the conclusion of the Zworsky series. With that being said, I’ve also written another story set in the Zworsky universe, which I’ll share next year.

Hitchcock Project Update

The journal did not accept the revisions I made to my article. Rejections are always tough, but they come with reviewer feedback that can really help improve the work. In fact, the pressure to address the comments got me back into the groove of academic writing.

The Hitchcock project is moving along faster than I expected. All five chapters are now written, including the introduction, and I’m currently doing a fine edit. After that, I’ll write the conclusion. I’ve even started working on a textbook proposal form, which I plan to begin submitting to publishers next year.

My Lovely Dark Summer

My new mystery and coming-of-age novel will be sent for copyediting in November. I designed the cover myself and will reveal it toward the end of the year. The release date is set for the first week of February, and I’m very excited to share this one with you.

“It lives in the rocks.” That’s the opening line of the synopsis. Stay tuned for more!

Charlie One: Run to the Future

I never thought I’d be writing another Charlie One story—but here we are! This new book started with two vivid images I couldn’t get out of my head. After sitting with them for about a year, the pieces finally clicked, and I found a way to connect them into a story.

You don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy this one, though there are a few connections for returning readers. The title is Run to the Future, and I’m aiming to have it ready by 2027.

Books Read

I’ve read a lot about Alfred Hitchcock this year as part of my research. One standout was Patrick McGilligan’s massive biography of Hitchcock, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also immensely enjoyed Todd McGowan’s Introduction to Jacques Lacan and wrote a short review for it.

Movies
One Battle After Another really stood out for me—I loved it. It might now be one of my favorites of Paul Thomas Anderson.

You can always read what I’ve watched and read by subscribing to my Substack.

Well, that’s it for me.

Enjoy the fall. Happy Halloween.

Keep reading. Watch movies.

Tom C.

www.tomconnellyfiction.com

Watched and Read - October 12, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

 

MOVIES

Are We Good? (2025) is a great and entertaining documentary about comedian and podcaster Marc Maron. Most of the film focuses on the years just before and after the lockdown. I especially loved seeing the studio where he records his podcast—and we even got to see his cats! After the screening, Larry Charles interviewed Maron, which basically turned into a stand-up set. I’m really sad that there won’t be any more WTF episodes.

Bullet in the Head (1990) – The Criterion Channel is currently featuring John Woo’s action films. While Bullet in the Head isn’t quite as great as The Killer or Hard Boiled, I still enjoyed Woo’s take on the story of three childhood friends trying to escape war-torn Vietnam. Having seen many Vietnam War films, it was fascinating to watch Woo’s perspective. The movie carries a Deer Hunter flavor, especially in the tragic fate that befalls one of the friends later in the film.

Slither (2006) – James Gunn’s directorial debut is a lot of fun to watch. It reminded me of the 1988 version of The Blob. You can already see some of Gunn’s signature touches, like his creative use of popular music and sharp sense of humor. The bathtub sequence was definitely the highlight of the film.

A Good Marriage (2014) – I believe this was a straight-to-video release. Stephen King adapted his own novella for the screen. It’s not a bad movie—slow at times, but still engaging. I especially enjoyed Joan Allen’s performance. The story comes from Full Dark, No Stars, a collection of four novellas by King that I highly recommend.

What Lies Beneath (2000) – I had mixed feelings about this one. I was living in Vermont at the time it was filmed, so it was fun to recognize some of the locations. The film is visually stunning, but the story feels a bit muddled. It starts in Rear Window mode, then shifts into Gothic horror with a “restless ghost” narrative. Zemeckis clearly shows his love for Hitchcock, but the film struggles to decide what it wants to be. That said, there are some great moments—especially the bathtub scene. Funny enough, that’s two horror films I watched this week featuring bathtubs.

Annabelle (2014) – Not as scary as The Conjuring, but I still enjoyed it. I liked that the story is set in an apartment, which gives the film a Rosemary’s Baby vibe. There are some solid scares, too.

Ozzy: No Escape From Now (2025) – This is a very good documentary about the final years of Ozzy Osbourne’s life. We watched the entire Back to the Beginning concert in July, and it was incredible—one of the greatest metal shows. The documentary doesn’t delve much into Black Sabbath or their brief reunion for one last performance, but it powerfully captures how much Ozzy struggled after his unfortunate back surgery. Very sad. RIP Ozzy.

John Candy: I Like Me (2025). Nice documentary that celebrates the life and work of John Candy. Uncle Buck is one of my favorites of his.

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TV

The latest episode of Task was one of the best so far. Mark Ruffalo delivered an incredible performance, and that twist was huge. This series is really turning into something great.

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BOOKS

Pure Excess: Capitalism and the Commodity by Todd McGowan is an excellent companion to his earlier work, Desire and Capitalism. In Pure Excess, McGowan’s central argument is that the commodity form conceals our fundamental lack by offering objects of pure excess. Since the subject is always psychically divided—meaning we carry an unshakable lack—the commodity form masks this truth by presenting the illusion of pure excess without requiring us to confront that lack. In this framework, limits are the enemy of capitalism. McGowan provides many scenarios and examples to illustrate how this dynamic plays out. Highlight chapters include his analyses of paranoia and modernism.

 

Watched and Read - October 5, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read last week…

MOVIES

One Battle After Another (2025). An outstanding film by Paul Thomas Anderson—possibly one of my favorites of his. The performances are incredible, especially Sean Penn’s. The cinematography is also excellent. The movie has a western vibe to it. Even the title evokes the feeling of a western. It is so cool that a major studio financed the film. Definitely one of my favorites of the year. Anderson should be nominated or win the Oscar for directing.

28 Years Later (2025) isn’t quite on the level of the original, but it’s still a solid zombie film. As you’d expect, it’s extremely dark and gruesome—so intense at times, I had to look away! Anthony Dod Mantle’s cinematography is stunning. He absolutely deserves an Oscar nomination this year for his work.

The Conjuring (2013) was terrifying! I had to watch it in parts because it was so intense. Great work by James Wan—there’s definitely a Poltergeist meets The Exorcist vibe going on. That said, I did wonder how the family didn’t know there was a basement in the house. But it didn’t matter—the horror totally worked on me. I’ll probably check out the other films in the series.

Panic Room (2002). I wrote about this film for my book, Cinema of Confinement, so it was fun to revisit it. In the book, I explore how films set primarily in a single location sustain viewer engagement without resorting to ‘filmed theater.’ Panic Room, along with other films like The Shining, Room, and 10 Cloverfield Lane, were among the works I analyzed.

Escape From New York (1981). Classic John Carpenter. I love the way he uses space to create suspense. Might be my favorite score of his.

Signs (2002). Very good apocalyptic film. Very suspenseful, especially the scene in the basement! I love Shyamalan’s early films.

Stealing Home (1988). I caught this on the Criterion Channel as part of a Jodie Foster spotlight. It’s not a bad movie—though at times, it leans a bit too sappy. After watching it, I read that the reviews were terrible. Roger Ebert even called it one of the worst films he’d ever seen, which I thought was hilarious. That said, I thought Foster was great.

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TV

Task, Episode 4. Another great episode. I was curious how they were going to pull it off, but they did—and with a big twist. Such a strong show so far. Stephen King was spot on to say that this is a crime story with soul.

We just finished Black Rabbit and thought it was really good. The performances by Jason Bateman, Jude Law, and Troy Kotsur were outstanding. They should all be nominated for an Emmy.

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BOOKS

The Winter Crone: The Arcane Tales of Tamsyn Pride by Natasha Bache. I really enjoyed reading this. The world-building was rich, and it was a pleasure getting to know the characters. There were some great surprises and twists along the way, and the writing was beautiful throughout. I’ll definitely be reading Book 2.

Watched and Read - September 28, 2025

Here’s what I watched and read last week:

MOVIES

Chinatown (1974) is one of the great films of the New Hollywood wave. It helped usher in the neo-noir era—a term used because filmmakers in the 1940s and 1950s didn’t realize they were creating what would later be called “film noir.” The label “noir” came from French critics, most notably Nino Frank. I still consider Robert Towne’s Chinatown one of the best screenplays ever written.

Needful Things (1993). Three hours and 8 min version. It was hard to tell exactly what was new, but I did enjoy it more than the theatrical cut. I’ve read King’s novel, which I like a lot—though the ending is a bit messy. Perhaps that has to do with the madness that takes over Castle Rock in the final part. King’s multi-character perspective novels are some of my favorites—The Stand and Under the Dome, for example. Needful Things definitely fits into that storytelling style. I thought the extended cut did a better job of capturing the ensemble cast than the theatrical version. It would’ve been interesting if the story had taken place over the course of just one day. That might have made it even more powerful. I also appreciated that they didn’t explain why the devil shows up in Castle Rock—it’s more unsettling that way. They left out Ace Merrill (the villain from The Body) from the novel. I thought he might show up in the extended version, but I’m guessing that would’ve made the film way too long. The standout performance was J.T. Walsh—he pretty much stole the show. Overall, a fun film to kick off the Halloween season!

Devo (2024) is a good documentary. However, I wished it had gone more in-depth about how the band got into songwriting and how they learned to play their instruments. I also would have loved to learn more about what the other musicians—besides Mark Mothersbaugh—did after Devo during their hiatus. Still, it’s definitely worth checking out. Director Chris Smith has made some great documentaries, especially American Movie (1999), which is one of my favorites.

Triumph: Rock and Roll Machine (2021) is a very good documentary about the rock band from Toronto. It was directed by Sam Dunn of Banger Films, who has made many great documentaries—especially in the metal genre. What I particularly liked about this one was the fan-focused aspect.

Five Corners (1987) – I watched this on Criterion and thought it was a very good film. It was written by John Patrick Shanley, who also wrote Moonstruck (1987) and Doubt (2008). The movie features a great ensemble cast, and John Turturro delivers a chilling performance as a particularly scary character. There were some genuinely shocking moments that caught me off guard.

 

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TV

Episode 3 of Task is beginning to take on a labyrinth-like structure, effectively blending suspense, noir, and whodunit mystery.

Black Rabbit is messy (maybe its supposed to be), but I’m still enjoying it.

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BOOKS

Departure 37 (2025) by Scott Carson is an excellent sci-fi novel. The story blends elements of The Twilight Zone with Cold War-era paranoia, offering thoughtful reflections on technology that resonate with both the past and the present. I also recommend Carson’s other two books, The Chill and Lost Man’s Cave.

 

Watched and Read - September 21, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read this past week:

MOVIES

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): One of my all-time favorite films. I rewatched it after hearing the terrible news of Robert Redford’s passing. I also watched All The President’s Men (1976) on Criterion - amazing film. Redford starred in so many great films, like The Natural and Three Days of the Condor. I also really enjoyed the movies he directed, such as A River Runs Through It and Quiz Show.

RIP Robert Redford.

Quintet (1979): I’ve always wanted to see this. What a strange movie! I thought the cinematography and set design were excellent—probably among the best-looking dystopian films of the 1970s. It’s definitely more about mood and atmosphere than plot, which is muddled and hard to follow. It could have been a great film. Still, it stands out as an early example of cinema blending with game-like narratives, a precursor to things like The Hunger Games and The Running Man.

Popeye (1980): I love this film and used to watch it repeatedly on cable back in the early ’80s. I was very young when it came out, so it was probably marketed toward my age group. While it doesn’t have great ratings on IMDb, I still loved watching Popeye again—maybe it’s nostalgia. As with many of Altman’s films, the set design is incredible. I read that Sweethaven Village is now a tourist attraction. I also loved Harry Nilsson’s songs.

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TV

I finished the third season of Strange New Worlds. Overall, I had mixed feelings about it. I’ll definitely tune in for the next season, though—I just hope it’s a lot better.

Task, Episode 2: This was a really strong episode and a great example of how we can suddenly find ourselves complicit with criminals or characters who make the wrong choices. It’s a theme that can be traced back to the cinema of Hitchcock.

I also finished the latest season of Bob’s Burgers and really enjoyed it. I particularly loved all the episodes that focused on Bob and Teddy. “Saving Favorite Drive-In” was one of my favorites. I also liked the episode where Bob flies a kite with his dad—or at least tries to!

Finally, I enjoyed the first two episodes of Black Rabbit. It has a film noir vibe, with strong performances from Jude Law and Jason Bateman, who play brothers.

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BOOKS

Bag of Bones by Stephen King: This was my second time reading it, and I really enjoyed it. That said, I do think some parts could have moved a bit faster—maybe a tighter edit here and there—but overall, I appreciated King’s gothic, paranormal tale. It’s moody, atmospheric, with a touch of classic King.

Watched and Read - September 14, 2025

 

Here’s what I watched and read…

MOVIES

Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982). I saw this a long time ago on cable in the late 1990s, so I was excited to see it available to stream on the Criterion Channel—along with a bunch of other Robert Altman films. It’s a very good film with great performances. I especially loved the set design. Anyone interested in fandom studies should definitely check this out.

Fool For Love (1985). I read that Altman was adapting a lot of plays in the 1980s. This one I’d never seen, and am not sure if I understood it. But I enjoyed the motel set and the performances.

That Cold Day in the Park (1969). Excellent film. I had no idea what was going to happen when I was watching it. Sandy Dennis’ performance is amazing. This was Altman’s third film and you can see he’s developing his style.

Friendship (2024). Couldn’t connect with the film’s dark humor.

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TV

Task. First episode was very good. Gritty and dark. I love Mark Ruffalo - one of my favorite actors. And it was very cool to see Martha Plimpton!

I finished the seventh season of Little House on the Prairie and enjoyed it. I watched the show when I was very young and don’t remember much from it. I’ve heard the last few seasons aren’t that great, so I watched episode one of the eighth season. They introduced Nancy to replace Nellie. Not sure if I’m going to continue.

I really enjoyed the Strange New Worlds episode “Terrarium.” It might be one of the best they’ve done. It reminded me of “Darmok” from The Next Generation, where Picard is stuck on a planet with a Tamarian. They have to use metaphors to communicate with each other.

“Wink of an Eye,” Star Trek, season three of the original series. I always loved this one. Kirk accelerates and everyone around him slows down. I watched it for research for a new novel I’m writing, which I’m almost done with!

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, “Hangover.” Tony Randall plays an alcoholic who blacks out frequently. Good twist at the end.

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BOOKS

Still conducting research on Psycho.

This week I read a chapter from Slavoj Zizek’s The Fright of Real Tears and “In His Bold Gaze” in Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lacan. . . . But Were Afraid to Ask Hitchcock.” Zizek offer some fascination insights into Hitchcock’s films, using Hegelian and Lacanian concepts. I am particularly interested in Lacan’s concept of drive and how it operates in Psycho.

I’m also reading Tales from The Crypt. They are so much fun! I highly recommend it, especially as we get closer to October!