storyline tropes Archives - Page 15 of 41

Steven Soderbergh Carries Black Bag to Respectability

Some of the movies that have stuck with me the longest weren’t massive box-office hits or franchise tentpoles — they were the hidden gems that slipped under the radar and hit harder because of it. Films like Bone Tomahawk, which… Continue Reading →

Fréwaka: Irish Folk Horror for the Patient Horror Fan

One of my favorite horror tropes is “Don’t Open That Door!” which effectively stirs up fear with just the presence of an ominous door, with no idea what lurks behind it. I particularly dread it when that door leads to… Continue Reading →

April 30, 2025

My Robot Sophia: When Your Childhood Furby Grows Up

When I was a teenager, I owned the ultimate piece of late ’90s technological wizardry: a Furby. Yes, THE Furby: that weird, wide-eyed, gibberish-spouting robot that somehow became the crown jewel of every social circle. While my friends were stuck… Continue Reading →

April 29, 2025

Creep Meets Misery in the Shudder Original, Dead Mail

Imagine stepping into your parents’ dimly lit attic, where the air is thick with nostalgia and the faint scent of old books mingles with mildew. You fumble for the dusty chain hanging from the ceiling, your fingers brushing against the… Continue Reading →

April 25, 2025

Through a Father’s Eyes: Season 2 of The Last of Us Walks a Fragile Road

There are nights, after my daughter’s gone to bed and the house has gone quiet, when I sit in front of my Warhammer models and I catch myself thinking about Joel from The Last of Us. Not just the badass… Continue Reading →

April 21, 2025

The Stakes are High and Sinners Delivers

Vampires have long captivated my imagination, securing their place as one of my favorite subgenres within horror. My fascination spans decades, starting with the pioneering classic, Dracula (1931). This iconic film established the foundational lore of vampires in cinema, introducing… Continue Reading →

April 17, 2025

As a Thriller, Holland Goes Dutch

During a recent visit to Chattanooga, Tennessee, I discovered the enchanting allure of tulips in the springtime. Much like the picturesque displays of fall foliage that draw millions to the New England states, travelers from all over the United States… Continue Reading →

April 5, 2025

Unicorns are Magically Murderous in A24’s Death of a Unicorn

As the days grow warmer and the twilight lingers longer, I gravitate toward the thrill of creature-feature films. Something is captivating about the suspense of movies that showcase sharks prowling the deep sea, colossal octopi ensnaring unsuspecting prey and alligators… Continue Reading →

March 26, 2025

Will Den of Thieves 2: Pantera Steal the Attention of Action-Movie Fans?

During my high school years, I worked at a small, independently owned video rental store — the kind of place where the shelves were packed tight with everything from Hollywood blockbusters to obscure indie films, and the scent of plastic… Continue Reading →

March 24, 2025

The War of the Rohirrim Attempts to Live Up to Tolkien’s Legacy

In 2012, as a fan of fantasy stories, my excitement was through the roof knowing that The Lord of the Rings was getting a live-action movie adaptation. The idea of seeing Middle-earth brought to life on the big screen, with… Continue Reading →

March 23, 2025

Geek Culture, Zombies... and Other Monsters

Tag storyline tropes