Twentieth Century (1934)

Twentieth Century (1934)

[6] A floundering Broadway director ingratiates himself to an old flame in order to rekindle his career in Twentieth Century. This film is often regarded as the grandfather of screwball comedy, one of my favorite genres. John Barrymore and Carole Lombard give…
The Black Cauldron (1985)

The Black Cauldron (1985)

[5] There was definitely potential. A dark Disney movie based on Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, about a farm boy's brave attempt to stop a demonic king from conquering the land with his army of skeletal warriors? Sign me up! Unfortunately, Disney…
None But the Lonely Heart (1944)

None But the Lonely Heart (1944)

[6] Cary Grant plays a wandering Londoner who's reluctant to settle down. This changes when he discovers his mother, played by Ethel Barrymore, has terminal cancer. Poverty and loneliness drive Grant and Barrymore to desperate measures, and just when you think things…
The Gate (1987)

The Gate (1987)

[6] Two boys accidentally uncover a portal to hell and then have to fend off the demons that emerge from it. Probably for budgetary reasons, The Gate takes place almost entirely in one house, but the menace really needed to grow beyond…
Clash of the Titans (1981)

Clash of the Titans (1981)

[8] Special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen brings Greek myths to life in Clash of the Titans. The story centers on heroic Perseus, favored son of Zeus, who must accomplish several deadly chores in order to save his beloved Andromeda from being sacrificed…
Tea and Sympathy (1956)

Tea and Sympathy (1956)

[6] Vincente Minnelli sheds a bright light on gender politics in this story of a bullied teenager who finds solace with his college housemaster's wife. It is fascinating to watch a film deal with mysogyny and homophobia at a time when these…
Kingdom of the Spiders (1977)

Kingdom of the Spiders (1977)

[6] Lethal tarantulas take over an Arizona town in this remarkably well-paced, well-put-together little B-movie. And William Shatner is the star! How frickin' cool is that? He actually delivers a decent performance. And Shatner fans will be happy to know that old…
Sin City (2005)

Sin City (2005)

[7] Robert Rodriquez and Frank Miller join forces, with a little help from guest director Quentin Tarantino, to bring Miller's much-loved Sin City to the screen. The result is less a film adaptation than a graphic novel come to life. The color…
Death at a Funeral (2010)

Death at a Funeral (2010)

[7] In this remake of a British original, all hell breaks loose at a funeral where volatile secrets are revealed. There are a few raunchy moments in the remake --directed by Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men) -- but the film…
Dead Snow (2009)

Dead Snow (2009)

[6] Just when you thought the Nazi zombie subgenre was dead, Scandinavia gives us Dead Snow. For those who find the concept appealing, the movie cuts the mustard, as well as several arteries. Unfortunately, a hackneyed plot, stock characters, and a scarcity…