Deep in the Big Thicket of East Texas, a former railroad spur affords visitors a glimpse of the bobbing, shimmering Light of Saratoga, which seems to approach, bounce, and change color before disappearing. It’s one of several “ghost lights” or “spooklights,” lights that appear without an obvious source or explanation, often surrounded by a unique…
Director Brad Furman’s “City of Lies” begins with a violent altercation on an open road between two men. The clash becomes a central event that the story keeps returning to: exactly why two angry drivers egg each other on, chase one another down a busy street and then open fire in broad daylight is a…
When leaving the metro at Slussen train station, perhaps to see the Katarinahissen, Sweden’s oldest animated sign, or taking in the Gamla Stan, visitors will find that part of the square is corded off for some apparent maintenance. Most people pass by the area without giving a second glance, but those who do will notice a hidden…
There’s a Sunday evening ritual in Baltimore, Maryland. Every summer, young riders blaze down the streets on dirt-bikes and four-wheelers, popping wheelies and tricks and waving to onlookers. The most badass riders can pull their bikes up completely straight, like the hands on a clock hitting midnight — these are the 12 O’Clock Boys. The…
An ancient ceremonial site, the Hill of Uisneach is considered by some to be Ireland’s most sacred site, as it is regarded as the symbolic center of the Emerald Isle. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonPrimarily associated with druids and the Celtic Festival of Bealtaine, the Hill of Uisneach is located at the center of the…
On a charming residential street in Nob Hill, an otherworldly structure arises from a corner lot. Slightly obscured by mature trees, indigenous flora, and corrugated metal fences, the locally-dubbed Spaceship House is actually the home and studio of eclectic architect Bart Prince. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonBorn in New Mexico, Prince…
Last December, it felt like every day was a banquet at the sharehouse where I live in Tokyo. On the Sunday before Christmas, we snacked on snow crab shabu-shabu. On Christmas Eve, we sliced up a whole smoked chicken. On New Year’s Day, we savored wagyu sirloin steaks. And throughout, we savored top-quality shochu and…
If “Harriet” could hear, she might pick up the sound of ping-pong balls skittering across a table. If she could smell, she might detect a range of lunches being reheated in a nearby microwave. If her eyes could see, she might let them wander a busted Pac-Man machine, a TV, and a campus bookstore, decorated…
The year 2021 will find special mention in the annals of Berlinale history for giving us the first-ever virtually programmed edition of the largest film festival in the world. Something else is also unique about this year as May 2nd will mark the birth centenary of an auteur whose name pops up more than any…
“Welcome to the serial killer podcast. Today we have something very exclusive.” Holy hell this is insanely scary. Meet Jimmy is an excellent 7-minute horror short from Dutch filmmaker David-Jan Bronsgeest. It originally premiered in 2018 at the Nederlands Film Festival and it’s finally available to watch online via Short of the Week. Jennifer is…
★★★★ Directed by #ChrisMcKim Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonFilm Review by Hope Madden Maybe you don’t know who David Wojnarowicz is. Maybe you have no idea how to pronounce his name. It might be safer to butcher the provocative late artist’s last name (voy-nah-ROYH-vitch) than to read the title of director…
If there was one core argument Woody Allen made in his defense during the course of litigation against him, it would be fair to say it was the “woman scorned” argument. There has been an implication by some on Allen‘s side – including Allen himself – that the accusations of sexual abuse were a proxy…
In 1918, the Russian Imperial Romanov family was executed by Communist revolutionaries. After the royal family was murdered, there were rumors that one of the Romanov children had escaped. These rumors often centered around 17-year-old Grand Duchess Anastasia, which led to many women claiming to be Anastasia and therefore connected to the Russian royal lineage….
Hulu’s “Sasquatch” is a modern true-crime doc of a rare breed: rarely have they felt as nerve-racking, dangerous, and truly scary. It is not all about Bigfoot, one must say right off the bat, because I suspect that most people wouldn’t want to get into a series that’s about Bigfoot hunters unless it had a…
As we wait for the world to emerge from the shadow of shut down and for places and venues to being to open again, the film world is continuing to evolve and adapt to an unprecedented time. With cinemas still closed but the appetite for art and escape still needed, maybe now more than ever,…
Lanleff’s temple is a pink sandstone ruin located in Lanleff, Brittany. It is a round church, reminiscent of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonThe exact age of this building is unknown. The earliest known references to the building is from 1148 when the Lord…
Say what you will about Disney+’s “WandaVision.” The mercurial series felt nothing like the preceding MCU movies that made Marvel the Hollywood behemoth it is today. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonIt’s why “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” feels both familiar and welcome. The new series opens with the kind of…
Standing at nearly 200 feet (60 meters) tall and just southwest of the Austrått manor entrance is an unusual four-sided pyramid. According to a few historical records, the structure was erected in 1665 by the Austrått manor’s owner Ove Bjelke in memory of his father Jens Bjelke. Ove Bjelke was one of Norway’s richest and…
Dark Matter Oddities & Artisan Collective located in the French Quarter is an offbeat home to both the beautiful and macabre. The shop contains a curated combination of strange antiques, locally hand-crafted artwork, and small-batch artisan products. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonA small group of artists produces an array of taxidermy,…
A teenage boy is out of his depth in Concrete Cowboy, the feature debut of co-writer and director Ricky Staub. Cole knew going to live with his father would be awkward. The two lived in different cities and barely knew each other, but nothing could prepare him for finding out he’d also be sharing quarters with a…
The Museum Club, known locally as “The Zoo”, is a Route 66 icon. It began as a taxidermy museum/shop in 1931 when taxidermist Dean Eldredge purchased federal land just outside Flagstaff, Arizona. He constructed what he believed was “the largest log cabin in the nation.” The upper floor and roof are supported by several massive…