An astonishing film! POOR THINGS (2023) tells the tale of Bella Baxter, a reanimated woman with the mind of a child and her growth into a functioning, independent adult. Like most of us, she gets sidetracked by her discovery of sex, learning the pitfalls of carnality and how the world commodifies human need and misery. Her journey is one of both education and revelation that allows her to eventually build the life she wants to live. The film creates a gorgeously artificial steampunk-style universe that elevates the story to fairy tale status without losing sight of the curious character at the center of the story. It’s fascinating in multiple ways with my favorite detail being the parallels that come to light as we learn more about Bella’s mad scientist father's childhood. This film provides ever expanding eye candy but even more serious food for thought as it comments on everything from the form of its own story and the places from which it draws inspiration to the larger meaning of life. What an entertaining work of art!
The List
LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (2023) – 8 (fascinating end of the world tale)
THE INVISIBLE MAN’S REVENGE (1944) – 5 (rewatch on Blu)
NEEDFUL THINGS (1992) – 7 (rewatch of 191 min. cut on Blu)
POOR THINGS (2023) – 9
TOP LINE (1988) – 4 (terrible mish-mash of SF, action and conspiracy theories but Franco Nero is great)
THE SINISTER DOCTOR ORLOFF (1984) – 6 (Franco’s umpteenth Orloff tale)
THE 1000 EYES OF DR. MABUSE (1960) – 8 (rewatch)
KRIMINAL (1966) – 7 (rewatch)
THE MARK OF KRIMINAL (1968) – 7
PREY (2022) – 8 (excellent Predator tale)
NIGHT OF THE HUNTED (2023) – 7 (well done thriller)
CAKE OF BLOOD (1971) – 6 (rewatch)
STAR PILOT (1965) – 5 (a.k.a 2+2=5 Mission Hydra)
THE UNSEEN (1945) – 7 (excellent thriller)
LAW OF THE LASH (1947) – 5 (first starring role for Lash LaRue)
THE RETURN OF DR. MABUSE (1961) – 7 (rewatch)
SCREAM OF THE WOLF (1974) – 6 (Dan Curtis/Richard Matheson TV movie – good but predictable)
THE KILLER SHREWS (1959) – 6 (rewatch on Blu)
EYE OF THE CAT (1969) – 6 (odd thriller written by Joseph Stefano)
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES (2023) – 8 (shockingly entertaining)
THE INVISIBLE DR. MABUSE (1962) – 7 (third 60’s Mabuse adventure)
THE FEAR (1995) – 6 (solid horror effort)
THE TESTEMENT OF DR. MABUSE (1963) – 7 (number 4)
DR. MABUSE VS SCOTLAND YARD (1963) – 7 (the fifth)
THE DEATH RAY MIRROR OF DR. MABUSE (1964) – 5 (the last)
BOSTON BLACKIE’S CHINESE VENTURE (1949) – 6
EVIL DEAD RISE (2023) – 8 (rewatch)
THE WRETCHED (2019) – 7 (well done witch tale)
EATING RAOUL (1982) – 7 (rewatch)
VENGEANCE IS MINE (1967) – 7 (spaghetti western)
BOSTON BLACKIE BOOKED ON SUSPICION (1945) – 6
A WHITE DRESS FOR MARIALE (1972) – 5 (not as interesting as I’d hoped)
ATTACK OF THE ROBOTS (1966) – 7 (fun early Franco with Eddie Constantine)
ALIAS BOSTON BLACKIE (1942) – 6
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