Hello, my dear Bluesky friends. 'Tis I with a brief status update. I've spent the last few days in the hospital. Fear not, nothing too serious. With a bit of luck and a little rest, I'll soon be back to my regularly scheduled programming of questionable film opinions and forgotten cinema.

THEM! (1954) Dir. Gordon Douglas There is never a bad time to indulge your love of atomic age insects, especially when the result is this good. Them! remains thrilling, tense and occasionally scary as giant ants emerge from humanity's experiments with the atom. One of the genre's very best.

THE LAST CHASE (1981) Dir. Martyn Burke A future surveillance state dystopia where private automobiles are banned sounded ridiculous in 1981. Today? Lee Majors carries this modest sci-fi road movie on sheer determination. It lacks spectacle but makes up for it with sincerity and grit, low budget fun

DREAMCHILD (1985) Dir. Gavin Millar This is not the cozy trip back to Wonderland you may be expecting. Beneath the fantasy lies a melancholy and at times disturbing meditation on memory, regret and forgiveness (or at least understanding) The Jim Henson creature effects are remarkable and unsettling🎞️

THE NIGHT THE BRIDGE FELL DOWN (1980/83) Dir. G.Fenady Perhaps the film's biggest disaster was premiering against the final episode of MASH. Despite that, this late-period Irwin Allen film remains an entertaining slice of TV catastrophe, complete with a collapsing bridge, guest stars and tension.🎞️📽️

LAND OF THE DEAD (2005) Dir. George A. Romero Many view this as a lesser chapter in Romero's Dead series, though it holds up remarkably well. The cast is solid, the practical effects deliver and the new direction for the zombies keeps things fresh. A fun and underrated return to the apocalypse.🎞️📽️

THE INCUBUS (1982) Dir. John Hough A small town is plagued by violent nightmares made flesh in this savage 80s horror effort. The film never fully comes together, but it benefits from John Cassavetes, who lends credibility to material that might have drifted into camp territory. Not for all tastes.🎞️

THE STONE TAPE (1972) Dir. Peter Sasdy This atmospheric British TV production may have been the first to popularize the idea of residual hauntings. The notion of a building acting as a psychic recording device unfolds methodically and becomes increasingly unsettling. Well acted and memorable.🎞️📽️🎬🎥

THE LEGACY (1978) Dir. Richard Marquand We've seen this setup before. A group of strangers gathers at a lavish English estate and things begin to go very wrong. Fortunately, what follows is a fun occult thriller buoyed by atmosphere and a game cast. Not perfect, but certainly worth a look.📽️🎞️

CRACK IN THE WORLD (1965) Dir. Andrew Marton An underrated entry in the science gone wrong genre. The film strives for credibility and benefits from solid performances that sell the increasingly dire situations. The effects may show their age but the scale and ambition remain genuinely impressive.🎞️

BAXTER (1989) Dir. Jérôme Boivin A dog narrator should make for a charming film. Not here. Based on a novel, this disturbing satire follows a canine rejecting decent owners in pursuit of someone more aligned with his bleak and nihilistic instincts. Its themes resonate more today than they should.🎞️📽️

THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957) Dir. A. Laven What this creature feature lacks in budget it makes up for in craftsmanship. The monster design remains strong while the mix of small town panic and military investigation with a desert atmosphere creates a cozy 50s sci fi horror experience.

GALAXY QUEST (1999) Dir. Dean Parisot Not an immediate hit, this affectionate send up of classic sci fi found its audience through word of mouth and video. The ensemble cast is flawless and the humor never comes at the expense of its characters. A film that has aged remarkably well. A fun rewatch🎞️📽️

ROADGAMES (1981) Dir. Richard Franklin A tightly wound Australian chiller that deserved earlier rediscovery. Franklin keeps the tension building through sharp direction and strong performances while the highway pursuit structure gives the film constant momentum. Smart and hugely entertaining.🎞️📽️

THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957) Dir. Nathan Juran Not top tier giant bug atomic horror, yet undeniably entertaining. The stiff acting and earnest dialogue only add to the charm while the giant insect wreaks havoc exactly as promised. Sometimes all you really need is a large bug and panic for a good film.

NEXT OF KIN (1982) Dir. Tony Williams This atmospheric Australian horror film turns a nursing home into a dreamlike gothic nightmare. The production design and fluid camerawork help overcome budget limits while the mystery slowly tightens around its lead. Creepy, elegant and ultimately rewarding.🎞️📽️

DARK AUGUST (1976) Dir. Martin Goldman This quiet slice of 70s occult horror favors slow burn atmosphere over shocks. What begins as a simple revenge curse gradually explores guilt isolation and emotional haunting. Not for all tastes, though if you surrender to the mood it becomes very effective.🎞️📽️

STANLEY (1972) Dir. William Grefé Grefé once again proves he understood drive in exploitation perfectly. The story meanders and takes some very strange turns near the end, yet the central idea of a man and his snakes on a revenge spree keeps it entertaining throughout.

EVITA (1996) Dir. Alan Parker Despite years of dismissal this adaptation is more successful than many admit. Madonna was never going to sound like a stage veteran yet she understands the assignment and delivers. At its best the blend of music spectacle and emotion becomes genuinely stirring.

ONE FROM THE HEART (1982) Dir. Francis Ford Coppola It may not fully hang together, yet this remains an audacious achievement. A small romantic story blown up to musical scale and carried by emotion and true love of cinema. The troubled production only adds to its beauty + peak Garr and Kinski🎞️📽️

NOCTURNA (1979) Dir. Harry Hurwitz A disco horror comedy about Dracula’s granddaughter should not exist, yet here we are...The film barely hangs together but the sheer oddness helps keeps it alive. Strange costumes and tone and just enough charm justify the ride. You have to see it once.📽️🎞️

FLATLINERS (1990) Dir. Joel Schumacher This stylish take on mad science may rely heavily on mood and visual flair, but it works. The cast on the edge of stardom gives the film real energy and conviction, helping paper over plot holes. Excessive, dramatic and of its time in the best possible way.📽️🎞️

GHOSTKEEPER (1981) Dir. Jim Makichuk Not for everyone, but this chilly little horror film got under my skin. The narrative wanders though the snowbound setting and creeping dread make it work. Low budget limitations become part of the charm. A strange and effective winter nightmare with solid mood.

PAPERHOUSE (1988) Dir. Bernard Rose A quiet and oddly haunting film that sneaks up on you. The ideas about isolation fear and imagination carry real weight while the handmade visual style adds charm. It may move slowly but it settles deep into the mind thanks to compelling cinematography.🎞️📽️

DEADLY EYES (1982) Dir. Robert Clouse A scrappy killer rat movie that survives on pure charm and nerve. The acting is spotty and the effects wildly inconsistent, yet the grimy atmosphere helps. Then come the dogs in rat costumes and the film becomes impossible to dislike. Not great but great fun.🎞️📽️

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA (2020) Dir. D. Dobkin A goofy crowd pleaser that works whether you know Eurovision or not. The film leans into the absurdity with real affection and lands more laughs than expected. McAdams/Stevens are the secret weapons here and unexpectedly very funny

THE MONEY PIT (1986) Dir. R. Benjamin Hanks gets the attention but Shelley Long is just as important to why this works. What starts as a dream home quickly becomes a Monkey's Paw of comic torment. The script may wobble yet the leads carry it with charm and panic. A very fun 80s update of a 40s idea.

THE STEPFORD CHILDREN (1987) Dir. Alan J. Levi In no way does this TV sequel match the depth or legacy of the original, yet this misguided camp fest is hard to resist. It hits every wrong note in the best way. Is it good? No. Is it fun? Absolutely. You’d be “a very lucky girl” to see it.🎞️📽️

BLUE MONKEY (1987) Dir. William Fruet This odd Canadian creature feature feels more ambitious than its budget suggests. The gooey tactile effects and creature loose in a confined setting work surprisingly well. Strange little directorial flourishes help make this weird cult item worth the ride.🎞️📽️

THE RUINS (2008) Dir. Carter Smith A film that should not work this well yet somehow does. The premise is pulpy but the tension and gore land hard. The cast commits and the setting creates real unease. Mean spirited in the best possible way at the intersection of body horror and 1950's B-movies.