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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

 

---

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.

 

---

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.

 

---

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.

---

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 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.

 

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

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.

 

 

---

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.

---

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?

 

---

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.

 

---

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 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…

 

---

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.

---

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.