Nights in White Satin
There is no denying that our childhoods play a very large part in who we become as adults. The proof is in the quasi-giallo pudding when looking at the titular character in A White Dress for Marialé (1972) – it has also been known as Spirits of Death and Tragic Exorcism. Directed by Romano Scavolini, the aforementioned Marialé (Ida Galli, aka Evelyn Stewart) had a traumatic childhood – witnessing the murder of her mother and lover by her father, only for the patriarch to turn the gun on himself after offing the secretive couple. Finding herself in an equally as toxic relationship with Paolo (Luigi Pistilli), the wealthy man hides her away in a half impressive, half dilapidated castle in the middle of nowhere with his trusty banged butler Osvaldo (Gengher Gatti) – looking like an oddball combination of an eccentric Vincent Price and inhuman Lurch.
The Finnish Line
2023's Sisu, written and directed by Jalmari Helander, is a Finnish word that does not translate easily to the English language, perhaps best explained as a sort of persistent rational determination in the face of much adversity... the perfect explanation for this Finnish/American co-production. Thriving in a very old reverse-hybrid form of Nazisploitation combined with classic western motifs and more than a splash of modern John Wick flair, Sisu follows Aatami (Jorma Tommila), a grizzled gold miner in the decimated Finnish Lapland nearing the end of World War II. Finally striking it rich, he transports it back to civilization with his loyal dog at his side.
Dolly Folly
The third film from writer/director Brandon Cronenberg (son of body horror maestro David), 2023's Infinity Pool, which follows 2012's Antiviral and 2020's Possessor, shows a penchant for the same bodily flair his father has, but also hones in on the devolution of humanity and the soul. Following a married couple, James and Em Foster (Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman), he is a less than middling author, having released a single critic-slammed novel that has left the man with a serious case of writer’s block... while she comes from money and sometimes seems more like a patroness than significant other.
Key to a Good Mission
After all these years, it is almost hard to believe that the key to success in an intricate Mission: Impossible adventure would literally be... a key. Yes, that is the all important piece that must be gathered in the seventh feature of the long running franchise, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One... with the bookend making its way into theatres in approximately one year. Co-written and helmed once more by Christopher McQuarrie (this is his third straight effort), it is quite clear that he has the formula down to a tee. Deftly fusing high stakes action, sight-seeing adventure, perfect comedic timing, and enough drama to keep even the more serious viewers involved, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) finds himself in a, dare I say it, even more impossible situation than ever before.
Star Pick with Amanda Bearse
It was an absolute pleasure to meet and interview Amanda Bearse at CAPE 2022 (Cornwall & Area Pop Event). A multi-talented actor and director, she is perhaps best remembered as troublesome neighbour Marcy in the long running television sitcom Married... with Children (she appeared in an impressive 259 episodes, while she also sat in the directorial chair 31times). Yet, two years earlier, she appeared in what must have seemed at the time to be a horror quickie that would come and go... except the annals of cinema history were not done with Fright Night – it becoming a true cult classic of the 1980s that is still growing its viewing audience today. After wrapping Married, she decided to step behind the camera more often than not, directing numerous television series, including The Jamie Foxx Show, Dharma & Greg, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Reba, Mad TV, to name but a few. For the first time in awhile, she is back in front of the camera with last year’s Bros and the upcoming comedy Tapawingo.
CAPE of Good Hope
After a raucous Saturday crowd, CAPE, or the Cornwall and Area Pop Event, had what has to be its biggest second day turnout yet. Excited crowds, many dressed in costume, flooded the Benson Centre, primed to explore its many booths. . . ranging from Funkos and vintage toys, to original artwork and literature, while others were looking to meet their favourite celebrities from film and television. With The Walking Dead continuing its reign as one of the supreme draws to any pop culture type weekend, organizers extraordinaire Randy Sauve and Carol Grant were able to bring in heavy hitters Cooper Andrews (who plays fan favourite Jerry... the right hand man of King Ezekiel, who first arrived on the scene in season seven)