Rob Tyers

Mobbed up local guys speculate about the Son of Sam in front of a massive iconic yellow DEAD END sign in NY

Decent example in Summer of Sam:

Fatalistic ‘Dead End’ sign spotted in Kalifornia (1993) #filmsky

Thread on this trope below 👇

Although I also dislike the opposite - only liking the “authentic” originators and disparaging pale imitators - although I’m more guilty of it occasionally

There’s a patronising distortion of progressivism at the heart of this kind of writing, as if every work of art is discardable in the lead up to to something better. A weird perfectionism (“so-and-so would better the sound later” etc)

Pet peeve in cultural criticism - judging the worth of a work by what it influenced later, as if it’s only purpose was laying the groundwork for something else that the critic usually prefers

Have seen a long time ago but had no memory of it being Don Johnson! Will rewatch

A friend posted a photo standing in front of the sea, so I commented with a pun “King Cunt” and now I’m worried they didn’t get the joke

Rewatched Kalifornia on a reminder from @rickburin.bsky.social

Rick’s assessment is bang on, and I think it’s aged better than the comparable Natural Born Killers from a year later. Also a slight reply to the serial killer romanticisation that arguably followed the release of Lambs … 1/2 #filmsky

Last observation to say there’s some surprising overlaps with Doom Generation from 2 years later - you’d expect it to the other way around (hip indie film followed by a slicker studio effort)

P.s. and of course the eternal post-Straw Dogs “how far will civilised man be pushed before he snaps” theme, often too simplistically read as fascist masochism

Also features Duchovny at the point of coming off soft erotica Red Shoe Diaries and just before X Files, which first aired about a month after the film’s release. His role is basically Mulder with a leather jacket

Also fits quite well with 90s middle class fear films - Breakdown, Unlawful Entry etc

Rewatched Kalifornia on a reminder from @rickburin.bsky.social

Rick’s assessment is bang on, and I think it’s aged better than the comparable Natural Born Killers from a year later. Also a slight reply to the serial killer romanticisation that arguably followed the release of Lambs … 1/2 #filmsky

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Book covers for Hell Fire Club by Geoffrey Ashe The Picnic by Matthew Long Disclosure by Kate Wilson The Cook by Harry Kressing The Long Firm by Jake Arnott Queens Conjuror by Benjamin Woollet The Blunderer by Patricia Highsmith The Hand by Simenon Sleep with the Devil by Day Keene

Recent book pick-ups, mostly inspired by people I follow on here 🤌 @steadytiger.bsky.social @just-me123.bsky.social @frankvatel312.bsky.social @neglectedbooks.com @slipperyjack.bsky.social @mysterious6030.bsky.social

#booksky

Vacuous - In His Blood

Vacuous - In His Blood (2025)

A great contemporary death metal band with one of the best drummers, especially live. There’s an 80s/90s grind/hardcore influence at play (early Earache, Rorschach, Dahmer etc) which places it on the punkier end of the genre, which is how I like it

Tim Buckley - Starsailor LP cover

Tim Buckley - Starsailor (1970)

My favourite Buckley. The most SKRONKY (partly Bunk Gardner’s impact), I categorise this as peak “Beatnik Vibe” along with the bits that annoy most people in live Doors sets, and later Beefheart indebted bands the world over

Imagine trying to make out to this record

Tangerine Dream - Atem (1973)

‘Krautrock’ appreciating followers, make yourselves known *tumbleweed*

Are this and Zeit kinda underrated? They’re fairly unique in the band’s development - pure SPACE MUSIC where time basically stands still. And largely the template for COIL’s Time Machines I’d argue

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Sepultura - Schizophrenia LP cover

Sepultura - Schizophrenia (1987)

Always loved the cover art. A thrash classic obviously

It’s kind of amazing that following the band name dispute, the current line up now plays festivals alongside “Cavalera Chaos AD”. I know which one I’d rather see

Spacemen 3 - The Perfect Prescription LP

Spacemen 3 - The Perfect Prescription (1987)

I’ve never had a Spiritualised revelation but I love the first 2 S3 albums and always will.

Incredibly, one of my old managers was having a clear out once and gifted me both LPs alongside a bunch of Sonic Youth, Swans etc. That was a good day I tell ya

Book covers for Hell Fire Club by Geoffrey Ashe The Picnic by Matthew Long Disclosure by Kate Wilson The Cook by Harry Kressing The Long Firm by Jake Arnott Queens Conjuror by Benjamin Woollet The Blunderer by Patricia Highsmith The Hand by Simenon Sleep with the Devil by Day Keene

Recent book pick-ups, mostly inspired by people I follow on here 🤌 @steadytiger.bsky.social @just-me123.bsky.social @frankvatel312.bsky.social @neglectedbooks.com @slipperyjack.bsky.social @mysterious6030.bsky.social

#booksky

Instagram DM - “That was a pun on King Cnut by the way Didn't feel the need to explain but after 3 days it was keeping me up at night”

Not a gag by the way just my life

A friend posted a photo standing in front of the sea, so I commented with a pun “King Cunt” and now I’m worried they didn’t get the joke

Particularly banging musical score, this one

People’s Liberation Army members reading Mao’s Little Red Book

This is the future that liberals want: state-sanctioned Performative Male Reading

YouTube video by ForARide John Cale - Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

One of my favourite John Cale videos (this and the pre Velvets one of him playing Satie on TV)

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night live performance from The Falklands Suite, 1987

Saw PROTOMARTYR for the second night in a row

Ran the numbers, this is definitely the 10th time I’ve seen them

The William Shatner horror filmed entirely in Esperanto

The James Bond rip-off starring Sean Connery’s younger brother Neil

The Yugoslavian film in which Richard Burton was drafted in by Tito to play Tito

The Turkish E.T. porno

The William Shatner horror filmed entirely in Esperanto

The James Bond rip-off starring Sean Connery’s younger brother Neil

The Yugoslavian film in which Richard Burton was drafted in by Tito to play Tito

The Turkish E.T. porno

A blindspot in my Highsmith reading, will rectify