Classics Review: The Pit and the Pendulum

In 1843, Edgar Allen Poe published a short story titled, “The Pit and the Pendulum.” Set during the Spanish Inquisition, an unnamed man sentenced to death must confront his fears. Suddenly, he wakes up in a dungeon with a bottomless pit, and a swinging pendulum. The man must overcome fear and evade obstacles if he […]

Spaceballs: The Review

During the ’80s, Mel Brooks directed “History of the World Part I.” Produced (his name uncredited) serious movies outside his comfort zone including “The Elephant Man” & “The Fly.” One parody film in particular pokes fun at “Star Wars.” Before “Spaceballs” was green-lit, Mel made a deal with George Lucas not a single piece of […]

Flashback Review: Napoleon Dynamite

In 2002, college student, Jared Hess produced and directed a slice-of-life short film titled, “Peluca”. Jared’s fellow classmate and friend, Jon Heder plays a gawky teenager named, Seth. He skips school with his friends. One Year Later, Peluca was screened at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival earning positive reactions. Afterwards, Jared dropped out of college […]

Slither (Universal’s Flops Vol. 1 #11)

After writing scripts for “Tromeo and Juliet, “The Specials,” the live-action “Scooby-Doo” movie, its sequel and Zack Snyder’s “Dawn of the Dead” remake, James “JG” Gunn worked on his directorial debut known as, “Slither.” A throwback to ’80s body horror films starring Nathan Fillion as a small-town sheriff who must find a way to put […]

Tremors

Fresh from the robot comedy “Short Circuit” and its sequel, screenwriter, S.S. Wilson penned a script titled, “Tremors.” It’s about two Maintenace workers, Val and Earl who live in Nevada doing odd jobs for a small town. Tired of doing the same old routine, the pair wish to leave for a big job opportunity. Suddenly, […]

The Faculty

Aliens were a trend back in the 1990s. “The X-Files” was the highest rated TV show on Fox. Roland Emmerich’s best work, “Independence Day” (one of my all-time favorite films) became the highest grossing film of 1996 that made Will Smith an A-List action hero. “Alien 3″ and Alien Resurrection” ruined the Alien franchise leaving […]