essays
Seduction on The Blacktop: The Eroticism of 'The Hitcher'
For all its action-horror swagger, this film is, at its core, a seduction.
essays
for the sickos
For the Sickos: Notes on "Salò"
I've been thinking more about Salò lately. If you've seen the film, there's a good chance you understand why already. It's a film steeped in the cruelty and callousness of fascism, and since we're surrounded by that all over again
Tracing The Shape
Tracing The Shape 6: One Good Scare, or Art History for Slasher Fans
Halloween gives me something new every time I watch it. That's not an exaggeration. I have seen this movie at least once a year for at least the last 23 years, and there are still details worth mining, worth expanding. This time around, for instance, I noticed something
Tracing The Shape
Tracing The Shape 5: He's Gonna Get You
Michael Myers doesn't become The Boogeyman until he encounters a child. John Carpenter has done his part over the decades to reinforce the idea that his monster is more force of nature than man, something echoed by Dr. Loomis throughout Halloween. There was a time when it felt
Tracing The Shape
Tracing The Shape 1: The First Face We See
Every year, my wife hosts a pumpkin carving party for family and friends. It's a very chill evening, complete with snacks and drinks and, usually, something very kid-friendly on TV. It's also the evening that, every year, I carve the same jack-o'-lantern: The one