Hot Shots of the Week: Gotham City’s Ice Princess

“The tree lights up, and then I push the button. No-no, wait, wait, wait, wait. I press the button and *then* the tree lights up...” It wouldn’t be the holidays without the delightfully ditzy Ice Princess from Batman Returns (1992)—played brilliantly by Cristi Conaway—lighting up Gotham City’s Christmas tree. As cinematic dumb blondes go, she’s … Continue reading Hot Shots of the Week: Gotham City’s Ice Princess →

Bombshells: Hold the (Virginia) Mayo

This was written for my old blog years ago, but never actually published. It was in my drafts folder for a month or so before I shut that blog down in April 2020. Recently, I revised and expanded it. Why Virginia Mayo, you ask? Well, in the final days of my old blog I had … Continue reading Bombshells: Hold the (Virginia) Mayo →

Hot Shots of the Week: Susie’s Audition

When our girl Susie Diamond sings “More Than You Know” during her audition with the Baker Brothers, jaws dropped across the globe. Jack and Frank were wowed, and so were audiences. It’s still a moment that sends shivers down my spine. She closes her eyes, purses those seductive lips, and seemingly transports to another plane … Continue reading Hot Shots of the Week: Susie’s Audition →

Hell Here

Scenes and dialogue from Batman Returns (1992) play in constant rotation in my mind. It’s the weirdest, most unique superhero movie ever made, in my estimation, and it’s also a delightfully subversive Christmas movie, too. It has everything going for it, from outrageously over the top characters to sumptuously gothic set designs, from a pitch-perfect … Continue reading Hell Here →

Lost and Found: Don’t Open till Christmas

I love Christmas horror. Every December I revisit several favorites. If I don’t, the holiday season just doesn’t feel quite as jolly! Bob Clark’s classic Black Christmas (1974) is not only my favorite Yuletide horror movie, but also quite possibly my favorite horror movie of all time. I like to discover new films, or new, … Continue reading Lost and Found: Don’t Open till Christmas →

Just Looking

In early October of 2020, less than six months into the existence of this blog, I created a post on Body Double that stood out from a lot of what I’d been doing here. That’s because it only had some brief introductory text and was largely comprised of screenshots from Brian De Palma’s sexually charged … Continue reading Just Looking →

“Favor Gonna Kill You Faster Than a Bullet”: Carlito’s Way at 30

Brian De Palma’s deeply moving morality tale Carlito’s Way (1993) recently had its thirtieth anniversary. The film has long held a special place in my personal movie pantheon, ever since seeing it opening night, November 12, 1993. Based on two novels by New York State Supreme Court Judge Edwin Torres (which I’ve read and highly … Continue reading “Favor Gonna Kill You Faster Than a Bullet”: Carlito’s Way at 30 →