Crooked Marquee

The Real Life Horrors of Abel Ferrara's The Blackout — Crooked Marquee Abel Ferrara’s 1997 thriller may seem like an unconventional watch for Halloween week, but hear us out.

On Abel Ferrara’s thriller “The Blackout,” which finally hit screens in the U.S. on this day in 2001: crookedmarquee.com/the-real-lif...

Classic Corner: Piranha — Crooked Marquee A fond look back at the ‘Jaws’ rip-off that was so good, Steven Spielberg poached its director.

The original 'Piranha' hit theaters on this day in 1978 - a ‘Jaws’ rip-off that was so good, Spielberg poached its director. crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

PUMP UP THE VOLUME was THE formative movie of my childhood, a coming-of-age call to arms so emotionally true that its pain & sincerity remain universal. it's now streaming on Criterion Channel; what a delight. my piece on it for @crooked-marquee.bsky.social:

crookedmarquee.com/pump-up-the-...

A Very Harvey's Hellhole Thanksgiving — Crooked Marquee This month’s look back at the cinematic misdeeds of Miramax is a holiday special, spotlighting two dysfunctional family Thanksgiving movies:

Craig D. Lindsay on 'Tadpole,' released on this day in 2002: crookedmarquee.com/a-very-harve...

“With each off-the-wall line reading, Evil Ed further cements the reputation of ‘Fright Night’ in camp horror history,” @audreyfox.bsky.social writes. “So here we are, 40 years after the film’s release, to draw a line in the sand demanding justice for Evil Ed.” crookedmarquee.com/an-ode-to-fr...

“Mixing the more traditional murder mystery elements of gialli with the supernatural drama of his Three Mothers trilogy, Argento creates a movie that, even by his usual batsh*t standards, flies by the seat of its pants,” @zvasquez.bsky.social writes of PHENOMENA: crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

Liam Neeson stars in “The Naked Gun,” a worthy successor to the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker comedy classic. Our review: crookedmarquee.com/review-the-n...

The Wedding Banquet at 30: Living Under the Weight of Unexpressed Emotion — Crooked Marquee Thirty years ago, 'The Wedding Banquet' introduced audiences to Ang Lee's cinematic musings on repression and passion.

On this day in 1993, 'The Wedding Banquet' introduced audiences to Ang Lee's cinematic musings on repression and passion. crookedmarquee.com/the-wedding-...

Chris Sarandon, Roddy McDowell, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse — all legends. But 40 years after its 1985 release, we pay tribute to the unsung hero of the original ‘Fright Night.’ crookedmarquee.com/an-ode-to-fr...

Classic Corner: American Graffiti — Crooked Marquee George Lucas's sophomore feature and first big hit (now streaming on Netflix) is a complicated examination of nostalgia and coming of age.

George Lucas's sophomore feature and first big hit ‘American Graffiti’ (released on this day in 1973) is a complicated examination of nostalgia and coming of age. crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

Forty years after its butchered American release, we look back at “Phenomena,” Dario Argento's craziest movie. crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...


“The Naked Gun is 85 minutes of nearly nonstop hilarity, and that includes the credits, which contain a final scene, a giggle-inducing song, and little jokes in the actual credits themselves,” @kimbermyers.bsky.social writes. crookedmarquee.com/review-the-n...

In a time when trans people find themselves increasingly on defense, the Criterion Channel celebrates one whose default is to play offense. A celebration of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”: crookedmarquee.com/staying-out-...

Liam Neeson stars in “The Naked Gun,” a worthy successor to the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker comedy classic. Our review: crookedmarquee.com/review-the-n...

“For those in her orbit Hedwig can be exhausting, even dictatorial, but people wouldn’t remain there if it wasn’t also exhilarating,” @hoodedjustice.bsky.social writes. “She’s authentic and unmistakably her own person, however much she yearns for her ‘other half.’” crookedmarquee.com/staying-out-...

Our bi-weekly look at the best new titles on Blu-ray, 4K, and your subscription streaming services includes “Pavements,” “Ghostlight,” “All We Imagine As Light,” “A New Leaf,” “Carnal Knowledge,” “Fade to Black,” “Silent Scream” and more: crookedmarquee.com/the-best-mov...

Richard Linklater’s (Somewhat) True Crime Trilogy: Hit Man, Bernie, and The Newton Boys — Crooked Marquee Richard Linklater's latest—the sexy romantic crime comedy ‘Hit Man’—rounds out a trilogy of true(ish) crime stories rooted in his native Texas.

Richard Linklater was born on this day in 1960. @zvasquez.bsky.social looked at his trilogy of true(ish) crime stories rooted in his native Texas: crookedmarquee.com/richard-link...

Stand Alone: The Legacy of High Noon — Crooked Marquee When the Gary Cooper vehicle strode into theaters 70 years ago, it became one of the most controversial - and influential - Westerns of its day.

When the Gary Cooper vehicle "High Noon" strode into theaters on this day in 1952, it became one of the most controversial - and influential - Westerns of its day. crookedmarquee.com/stand-alone-...

In a time when trans people find themselves increasingly on defense, the Criterion Channel celebrates one whose default is to play offense. A celebration of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”: crookedmarquee.com/staying-out-...

Classic Corner: Deliverance — Crooked Marquee John Boorman’s 1972 backwoods thriller (now streaming on HBOMax) remains a potent and powerful work – a revenge movie with a twist.

John Boorman’s backwoods thriller (released on this day in 1972) remains a potent and powerful work – a revenge movie with a twist. crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

“The Phoenician Scheme,” “Danger: Diabolik,” “Northern Lights,” “Dark Victory,” “Hiding Out,” “The Rage: Carrie 2,” and more of this week’s best movies to buy or stream: crookedmarquee.com/the-best-mov...

Thirty years after its controversial release, a look back at “Kids,” Larry Clark's notorious portrait of youth gone to seed in mid-'90s Manhattan. crookedmarquee.com/harveys-hell...

Classic Corner: The Ranown Westerns — Crooked Marquee In six masterful late ‘50s Westerns, director Budd Boetticher and star Randolph Scott brilliantly reimagined the Western and its hero.

In six masterful late ‘50s Westerns, director Budd Boetticher (born on this day in 1916) and star Randolph Scott brilliantly reimagined the Western and its hero. crookedmarquee.com/classic-corn...

When Italian Postapoxploitation Came to Criterion — Crooked Marquee A trio of ’80s post-apocalyptic exploitation films currently streaming on the Criterion Channel tests the adage about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery.

Italian exploitation filmmaker Enzo G. Castellari was born on this day in 1938. We looked at his trio of ’80s post-apocalyptic pictures, and how they test the adage about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. crookedmarquee.com/when-italian...

Our bi-weekly look at the best new titles on Blu-ray, 4K, and your subscription streaming services includes “Pavements,” “Ghostlight,” “All We Imagine As Light,” “A New Leaf,” “Carnal Knowledge,” “Fade to Black,” “Silent Scream” and more: crookedmarquee.com/the-best-mov...

David Warner: A Suitable Case for Knighthood — Crooked Marquee On the eve of his 80th birthday, we offer up an appreciation of the unique gifts of this esteemed English actor.

An appreciation of the unique gifts of the esteemed English actor David Warner, born on this day in 1941: crookedmarquee.com/david-warner...

“If ‘Kids’ ever did get the 4K digital-restoration treatment, I get the feeling younger, savvier audiences might dismiss it as a shameless, salacious, controversy-stirring relic,” @unclecrizzle.bsky.social writes. crookedmarquee.com/harveys-hell...

Celebrate Christmas in July With Christmas in Connecticut — Crooked Marquee It may have been released during the summer 80 years ago, but this Barbara Stanwyck romantic comedy captures its own screwball sense of the Christmas spirit.

It may have been released during the summer 80 years ago, but the Barbara Stanwyck romantic comedy “Christmas in Connecticut” captures its own screwball sense of the Christmas spirit.

Classic Corner: The Lady Vanishes — Crooked Marquee Alfred Hitchcock’s 1938 delight may not be one of your go-to Hitch pics, but it should be.

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1938 delight “The Lady Vanishes” may not be one of your go-to Hitch pics, but it should be.

The Case for Remaking Waterworld — Crooked Marquee On its 25th anniversary, we wonder if the prescient themes of the notorious Kevin Costner fiasco make it prime for a remake - and what that would look like.

'Waterworld' was released on this day in 1995. @812filmreviews.com on why we should give it another pass: crookedmarquee.com/the-case-for...