As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, a young woman’s thoughts turn to horror. Not just any horror, but the strange brand of Italian horror cinema dubbed ‘giallo’. Gialli are known for blood and gore, a stylish yet menacing atmosphere and bizarre twists at the end. Giallo films are considered the inspiration for American slasher movies and it’s not hard to see why.
If you’re a fan of Italian giallo, you’ll find DBRL’s free streaming service, Kanopy, a virtual wonderland that will surely keep you enthralled for the remainder of this horrifying year. And on that note, here are some gruesome* highlights to get you started. Maybe, in comparison, they’ll make 2020 look almost normal.
*No kidding! Put the kids to bed! Continue reading “Italian Horror!”
Fall is my favorite season, and not for pumpkin spice reasons. All summer, I can’t wait for the cool weather so I can wear all the flannel, boots and cardigans, and curl up in a blanket watching horror movies. My personal spooky season started in late August this year; the first time there was a hint of chilliness in the air and maybe one leaf turned sort of orange — it was horror time for me. Here are a few of my horror film favorites.
The Shining
This is one of the first films that got me interested
in horror when I was in my tweens and I watch it almost every year around Halloween. Whether you’ve seen this movie or not, you probably know “REDRUM” and Jack Nicholson demolishing a door with an axe screaming “Here’s Johnny!” In this horror classic, Jack Torrance becomes the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel located in the Colorado Rockies. His son Danny begins having psychic premonitions, and as Jack learns more about the hotel’s dark past, he begins to terrorize his family. Director Stanley Kubrick does a great job at creating a general feeling of unease throughout the film. Continue reading “Horror Film Favorites”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“The Mole Agent”
Website / Reviews
Shown earlier this year at the 2020 True False Film Fest, this documentary follows 83-year-old Sergio, who is sent as an undercover spy to a Chile retirement home to track suspected elder abuse. Through the lens of the hidden camera in his decoy glasses, viewers watch as Sergio struggles to balance his assignment with becoming increasingly involved in the lives of several residents. Continue reading “New DVD List: The Mole Agent, Shirley, & More”
Here is a watch list that explores themes from this year’s One Read title, and recommends films from the free streaming service offered by Daniel Boone Regional Library, Kanopy.
Tchaikovsky, one of the great Russian contributions to Western culture:
“Getting to the Nutcracker: The Making of a Christmas Classic”
101 minutes, 2014
Filmmaker: Serene Meshel-Dillman
Continue reading “A Gentleman in Moscow: The Kanopy Watch List”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Seven Worlds, One Planet”
Series 1
Website / Reviews
Millions of years ago, incredible forces ripped apart the Earth’s crust, creating our seven continents, each with its own distinct climate, its own distinct terrain, and its own unique animal life. This documentary series presented by Sir David Attenborough showcases the true character of each continent in turn and reveals just how it has shaped all life there. Continue reading “New DVD List: Seven Worlds, One Planet, & More”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Knives Out”
Website / Reviews
A tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie and a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When a renowned crime novelist is found dead at his estate, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From the novelist’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind his untimely death. Continue reading “New DVD List: Knives Out, Fleabag & More”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Parasite”
Website / Reviews
Playing last year at Ragtag Cinema, this fictional film by director Bong Joon Ho is a pitch-black modern fairytale of class conflict. The film is a story of two families: one, the Parks, the picture of aspirational wealth; and the other, the Kims, may be rich in street smarts but little else. Through chance or fate, these two houses are brought together and one senses a golden opportunity. Continue reading “New DVD List: Parasite, Cobra Kai & More”
Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.
“Downton Abbey: The Motion Picture”
Website / Reviews
Playing last year at Ragtag Cinema, this fictional film takes place after the conclusion of the hit television series, which examined the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house. In this film the Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives: a royal visit from the King and Queen of England. Continue reading “New DVD List: Downton Abbey, Linda Ronstadt, & More”
