Classics Review: Onibaba

Set in the 14th Century during the Nanboku-chō period, an old woman and her daughter-in-law kill samurai, discard their inventory and sell ’em in order to stay alive. The former meets a man wearing a mask. Meanwhile, the latter sneaks out at night visiting a neighbor. All heck breaks lose. Released in 1964, (same year […]

American Horror Story: Hotel

After American Horror Story’s fourth season, “Freak Show” received praise, Ryan Murphy worked on a fifth season, “Hotel.” Set in modern era, ghosts and vampires reside in a hotel. A detective investigates deaths within the place. He also tracks down a serial killer and a missing loved one. Besides the detective, viewers learn about the […]

1408

In 1999, Stephen King released an audiobook of short stories titled, “Blood and Smoke.” One of them, “1408” follow a non-fiction writer who checks himself into a hotel to unconver a room where previous occupants were killed. As you might expect, the titular room haunts him. Eight Years Later, John Cusack starred in a film […]

Classics Review: The Raven (1963)

In 1845, Edgar Allen Poe published a short story on the form of a poem titled, “The Raven.” It’s about a man who descends to insanity when the titular bird torments him. 118 Years Later, the late Roger Corman & Richard Matheson collaborated again adapting yet another Edgar Allen Poe work since “House of Usher.” […]

The Monkey

In 1980, Stephen King published a short story for a sex magazine (not kidding) titled, “The Monkey.” Then, it was tweaked in 1985 as part of a short story collection under “Skeleton Crew.” Has zero link to Star Wars. Anyway, The Monkey’s about a man named Hal who rediscovers the titular wind-up toy from his […]

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 […]