Those cannibals are onto something. I taste delicious.
On My Radar: Gather round the campfire and grab some marshmallows! We've got much to discuss re: what's been hitting my eyeballs and my ear holes
Well, hello there! Fancy meeting you here! I’ve got a TON of stuff to talk about as I haven’t done a roundup of all the things I’ve been watching/reading/listening to in a hot minute.
You know what else I’ve been doing? Writing! I’m well into this year’s addition to my Holiday Hallmark with Smut collection, a Christmas AU that you may recall is based on the Red, White, and Royal Blue movie (itself based on the Casey McQuiston novel). I love writing fiction as much as I love reading it. It honestly fills me with joy to be sitting in front of my laptop building a world with characters I adore. Can’t wait to share my latest story with everyone next month over on Archive of Our Own!
Alrighty then! Let’s get to it. Strike a pose. There’s nothing to it.
FILM
Making a legacy sequel that lives up to the original is a tricky proposition. For every Disenchanted, there's a Top Gun: Maverick. Luckily for fans of Tim Burton's 1988 original, not only does this sequel deliver, it also reminds us why we loved Burton in the first place. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara are all back, plugging straight into their characters without missing a step. There are plenty of laughs; delightfully macabre production design; a big, black beating heart; and game new cast members Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, and Jenna Ortega. The Ghost with the Most is back, baby!
Edward has neurofibromatosis — a condition that causes tumours to grow on skin and bone. After participating in a radical surgery, the aspiring actor starts his life anew only to be drawn into a skewed version of his old life via a play written by his former neighbor. That's when his past and present blend into a waking nightmare. Sebastian Stan is tremendous as Edward, giving a multilayered tour de force performance. He has strong support from Renate Reinsve as Edward's playwright ex-neighbor and Adam Pearson, who actually has neurofibromatosis, as a new friend who brings out Edward's insecurities.
We all wonder what our life will look like in 10 or 20 years. Imagine actually getting a visit from your future self on your birthday while in the woods with your friends and high on mushrooms. Elliott (a superb Maisy Stella) initially freaks out, then embraces the weird reality of her situation. The pair (older Elliott is played by the amazing Aubrey Plaza) develop a nice big/little sister dynamic until the real reason why future Elliott is here comes to light. A wry coming of age story that is warm, emotional, and honest, this is a gem that will shine brighter as more people discover it..
And don’t forget...
Stay away from Apartment 7A. Despite the combined power of Julia Garner and Dianne Wiest, there is nothing to recommend this lethargic prequel to Rosemary's Baby. Instead, check out co-writer/director Natalie Erika James' superior horror film Relic with Emily Mortimer. ... Sebastian Stan embodies President Donald Trump in director Ali Abbasi's morbidly fascinating The Apprentice, which looks at Trump's initial rise in real estate. Stan and Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn make a mesmerizing double act. ... Vatican conspiracy thriller Conclave is a slow burn that never lets the simmering tension come to a full boil. That said, it is well plotted with strong turns by its (predominantly male) veteran cast, leaving the iconic Isabella Rossellini without enough to do. ... The darkly comic body swap thriller It's What's Inside is an immensely satisfying romp that features a group of friends reuniting for a wedding only for things to go sideways fast upon the arrival of an estranged member of the group. ... I'm not a Saturday Night Live fan and yet I love a good "let's put on a show" tale, which is why I was drawn to Saturday Night, director/co-writer Jason Reitman's chronicle of what went down right before Lorne Michaels' sketch comedy debuted live on NBC in October 1974. Reitman assembles a good ensemble for this engaging look back; Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, Tommy Dewey as Michael O'Donoghue, Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol, and Matthew Rhys as George Carlin are the standouts. ... Writer-director Caroline Lindy's beauty and the beast yarn Your Monster isn't a straight-up romcom, it's actually a horror romcom that doesn't shy away from the gore of the former nor the heart of the latter. It even drops in a musical within the film because it can. Melissa Barerra and Tommy Dewey's sparkling chemistry is the secret ingredient that makes this movie sing.
TV
Keri Russell's return to series television following The Americans — one of best shows of the past twenty years — is another gripping thriller that's light on its feet while keeping you glued to the screen. The titular diplomat is Russell's Kate Wyler, who's been assigned to the U.K. after a British vessel has been attacked. Out of her element and potentially out of her depth, this assignment could make or break her career and her marriage. Russell leads a fantastic cast that includes Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh, Rory Kinnear, and Michael McKean. Renewed for season three; all episodes available on Netflix.
Despite being cancelled by Paramount+ and given a mere four additional episodes to wrap up four years' worth of story, creators/showrunners Robert King and Michelle King end the acerbic horror series on a great note. Season four doesn't tie everything up in a bow, however; in the Kings' inimitable style, they put a button on Kristen, David, and Ben's journeys that leave things open should we be blessed with a fifth season down the line. If I'm being honest, I may miss Kristen's daughters most of all. This is one of my favorite shows of the past decade and I cannot recommend it enough. All episodes available on Paramount+.
Showtime's loss is Netflix's gain ... and ours. Hands down the best show of 2024 — not to mention one of the best things I've watched this year — Steven Zallian masterfully brought Patricia Highsmith's beloved protagonist to the screen in this limited series. Andrew Scott beautifully gives life to Tom Ripley, coaxing out nuances in his personality that make Ripley feel flesh and bone as opposed to just words on a page. He's given fantastic support by Johnny Flynn as the object of Ripley's desire, Dickie Greenleaf, and Dakota Fanning as Dickie's girlfriend Marge Sherwood, who suffers no fools despite being constantly thwarted by Ripley. This is the definitive interpretation of Highsmith's text. All episodes available on Netflix.
Just because you return home, doesn't mean everything automatically slots back into place. Sam (a fabulous Bridget Everett) feels like an outsider in her hometown and within her own family. She slowly makes inroads by befriending Joel (Jeff Hiller, just wonderful), who helps Sam find her people, and taking the time to get to know her estranged sister Tricia (Mary Catherine Garrison, so good). Produced by Josh Duplass and Mark Duplass, the comedy grounds itself in its environs and its characters, giving it a documentary vibe that makes you wish you could hang out with Sam and everyone in real life. Final season now airing on HBO; all episodes available on Max.
And don’t forget…
Castlevania: Nocturne is truly fantastic and so far this sequel lives up to the original animated series. Set 300 years after the events of Castlevania, the new show follows slayer Richter Belmont as he teams up with a motley crew to continue his family’s legacy and thwart the world domination of a powerful vampire. Renewed for season two; all episodes available on Netflix. ... If you prefer your animated shows light and quirky with a sci-fi mystery at its center, then the charming Gravity Falls is what you need in your life. The story is told in just two seasons, but in that short timespan you’re guaranteed to fall in love with Dipper, Mabel, Grunkle Stan, and the rest of the townsfolk. All episodes and shorts available on Disney+. ... Don’t you dare sleep on the extraordinary British dramedy Rain Dogs. In a single season, creator/showrunner Cash Carraway crafts a realistic, hilarious, heartbreaking tale about a single mum (Daisy May Cooper) trying to do right by her young daughter (Fleur Tashjian) while navigating her toxic, co-dependent relationship with her best friend (Jack Farthing). Cooper and Farthing are exceptional with Tashjian a revelation. All episodes available on Max. ... The fourth and final season of the bawdy Sex Education goes out on a high as it nicely wraps up the show while positioning all of the remaining characters so that they are ready to start the next chapters of their lives. All episodes available on Netflix. ... For those still needing a horror fix now that the jack-o-lanterns have been trashed, the goofy fun that is Stan Against Evil offers demons and witches and gore. IFC canceled the show after season three, so there’s not a definitive resolution, but it definitely deserves your attention nonetheless. All episodes available on Shudder. ... I was so happy when The Tourist — the delightfully twisty, darkly comic crime thriller from the brilliant minds of Jack Williams and Harry Williams — found a new streaming home on Netflix this year. Season two was an unexpected gift in more ways than one as the show was supposed to be a six-episode limited series. I’m greedy enough to hope we get a third season, even if it's the last. All episodes available on Netflix. ... True Detective: Night Country, the latest entry in the series, is the brainchild of writer/director Issa Lopez. Set in small town Alaska during the dark season, the core mystery incorporates sci-fi and horror while deftly weaving in the town’s Native American community. All this, plus two dynamic central performances by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis. All episodes available on Max.
BOOKS
Amazon Original Stories' Creature Feature
This highly satisfying short story collection features six creepy tales from a cool batch of horror writers. The stories included are: The Pram by Joe Hill; Ankle Snatcher by Grady Hendrix; It Waits in the Woods by Josh Malerman; In Bloom by Paul Tremblay; Best of Luck by Jason Mott; and Big Bad by Chandler Baker. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I'm going to go with Baker's werewolf tale Big Bad. I love how it all unfolded and I became invested in the family at the heart of it all. This collection was the perfect introduction to most of these authors' writing, ensuring I will be reading more of their works.
Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon
I recently completed my annual voyage into the world of Gabaldon's Outlander series with this, the eighth book. Picking up where An Echo in the Bone left off, I'm loving the threads Gabaldon introduced with Echo and continues to follow here. The love story of Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser and Jamie Fraser burns brighter now than ever with the Revolutionary War as a suitably dramatic backdrop. Gabaldon continues to pack so much into each 800- to 1,000-page novel, immersing you in the world with staggering detail. In addition to what's happening with Claire and Jamie, we also keep up with (my beloved) Lord John Grey, William Ransom, Ian Murray, and Roger MacKenzie, all of whose stories are equally fascinating. I'm not entirely certain how I feel about Brianna Randall Fraser MacKenzie's escapades this go-round, but I'm happy to wait and see how it plays out in the next couple installments.
PODCASTS
The new season of the indie studio’s podcast has begun! I've heard the first two episodes and they are both fantastic. A Little Danger with Sebastian Stan & Colman Domingo and Child's Play with Andrew Garfield & Harris Dickinson showcase riveting conversations between these particular pairs. Every episode features a different dynamic duo and there's never a dull moment. Previously there have been conversations with Ramy Youssef & Mahershala Ali, Brendan Fraser & Michelle Yeoh, Patti LuPone & Nathan Lane, and Celine Song & Sofia Coppola, among many others.
Talking Pictures: A Movie Memories Podcast
Speaking of good talks, I'm super excited about season two of this podcast from Turner Classic Movies and streaming service Max. I’ve talked about it previously after I listened to the first season and you can bet I'll be back to properly talk about the new season soon. Once again, the podcast is hosted by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz, who always delivers a quality interview regardless of the medium. Season two began Nov. 12 with guest Bill Murray.
A friend turned me on to this horror movie podcast hosted by Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jon Lee Brody earlier this year. I've really been enjoying how much fun each episode is while I play catch up. Prinze and Brody are huge horror fans and their enthusiasm for the genre is evident throughout. I wanted to give a quick shout out to their interview with Fright Night and Child's Play director Tom Holland that is an absolute delight. And to thank them for recommending Night of the Creeps!
That's all I got for now. Laters, gators!
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