Tag: universal

A minor blip in Universal's catalog, Horror Island makes for fast, light viewing that's ultimately too inoffensive to write off.

Basil Rathbone and Bela Lugosi headline, but 1941's The Black Cat is more a murder comedy routine starring Universal regular Hugh Herbert.

Lon Chaney Jr.'s stint as an electrically-imbued mutation in Man Made Monster follows the Universal formula, but with updates for a contemporary time.

Released on the eve of the US involvement in World War II, Tower of London warns of those seeking power, and those who willingly assist.

Bean Bags On screen, it’s risque to center pre-teens in an R-rated comedy. No one wants to admit kids talk like this, but avoidance is a social lie. Good Boys …

Someone’s Overcompensating It figures that in this current and cursed timeline, something like Hobbs & Shaw speaks sensibly. As a brazen, idiotic, muscle-driven action flick, it’s necessary to spell …

Cutting Gangster Cinema’s Mold Released at the tail end of American prohibition, 1932’s Scarface, at times, is more a plea than movie. The Chief of Police (Edwin Maxwell) verbally …

A Cockroach in Miami’s Midst Scarface is both reactionary and alarmist. Oliver Stone’s screenplay slams the Carter administrations chaotic immigration policy, induces immigrant fears, this while blaming communism’s stranglehold …

Dubios-er It’s difficult to create a more non-manly archetype than Stu (Kumail Nanjiani). He doesn’t use guns. He works at a retail store. Nutrition matters to him. Stu cried …

BFG (Bogus Financial Grab) Per Doom lore, there’s a scientific base on Mars’ moon Phobos. It’s one of those sci-fi places where smart people do dumb things like tinker …

Hole in the Desert The final moments of Casino show old Vegas being torn down. Implosions send once grand buildings to rubble. Sam Rothenstein (Robert De Niro) opines about …

Fauxbots While The World’s End lacks Shaun of the Dead’s comedic cleverness, it instead chooses a more somber, richer topic to finish the Cornetto trilogy. In that, The World’s …