Celluloid Diaries: September 2017

Monday, September 25, 2017

Five movies and documentaries like Rise of the Nephilim

elle fanning somewhere

This is a guest post by Marcus James, author of the book Rise of the Nephilim

As a writer, anything can inspire me. A news article, a song, a television show, movie; even a commercial. The visions come to me fast and bring the characters through and they show me glimmers of their lives and what is going to unfold. For me, it’s mostly about research. I love the research process. I acquire books for research that can make a two-foot tall pile on my table and I love nothing more than my notepad and highlighters to go through page after page.

With Rise of the Nephilim, the standalone prequel to my Gothic horror witch series, The Blackmoore Legacy, which follows the sexy stone fox and future matriarch to the Blackmoore dynasty of witches, Kathryn Blackmoore as a 26 year old in 1987 Los Angeles, my research took me to watching a lot of documentaries that focused on the famed Sunset Strip and horror films the truly captured the look and feel of the late 70’s and 80’s.

Below is a list of the films and docs I watched to immerse myself in that rebellious time of life.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Book tip - Are You in the House Alone? by Amanda Reyes

are you in the house alone?

Do you feel nostalgic when it comes to old-school TV movies? Do you want to know more about the subject? In that case, I have the perfect book for you: Are You In The House Alone? A TV Movie Compendium 1964-1999 by Amanda Reyes.

If her name sounds familiar, it's probably because you read her website Made for TV Mayhem or her essay on Locusts in When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals. If there's one thing we should say about Amanda Reyes, it's that she's extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the subject.

The first half of Are You In The House Alone? consists of essays focusing on several aspects of genre TV movies, including famous TV heroes and heroines, eco-horror, rape-revenge and rape-response films, Cold War films, Stephen King on TV, small screen exploitation, forgotten gems, the USA World Premiere Movie, and much more.

The second part is compiled of mini-reviews. After a little overview of TV mini-series (such as The Dark Secret of Harvest Home, Helter Skelter, V, etc.), we are treated to mini-reviews of made-for-television movies divided by era: 1964-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999, until cable and the 2000s. Each review starts with a small description of the plot, so you immediately know whether the film is right up your alley or not.

Would you like to know more about Are You in the House Alone? We had a chat with Amanda Reyes about her new book.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Best movie couples of all time

best movie couples

This is a guest post by Kristina Knight, author of Breakup in a Small Town.

I am a sucker for a great movie couple – Joan Wilder and Jack T. Colton (Romancing the Stone), Vivien and Edward (Pretty Woman), and Jack and Rose (Titanic) are all on my list. I like couples that banter, couples that laugh together, couples that are hot for each other…even if they’d lost a little of that sparkle.

Here are a few of my favorite movie couples.

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Etrange Festival 2017

etrange festival 2017

Have you ever been to Etrange Festival in Paris?

This film festival focusing on the bizarre is already celebrating its 23rd birthday. There's only a small bar and not much regarding side activities, but you'll discover films there which you won't easily find somewhere else, both new and in retrospective. It takes place at the Forum des Images, a cinema complex in a shopping mall, and the screenings are divided over three different rooms.

We attended the first two days of Etrange Festival. Here is what we've seen so far.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Top 10 sci-fi films since 2000

top 10 sci-fi films

This is a guest post by Patrick Temple Hickey, author of The Nostradamus Code.

Arrival (2016)


Directed by Denis Villeneuve -- A mind-bending, time-warping adaptation of Ted Chiang’s The Story Of Your Life with an emotional impact that transcends genres. All bodes well for Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 to be released in the fall. Can’t wait.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Caturday Movies - Chatty Catties

talking cats movie

Have you ever imagined a reality where cats could talk? Wouldn't that be awesome?

But what if your cat tells you he doesn't understand what your date sees in you and that you have a drinking problem? Would you still think talking cats are cool?

The American indie comedy Chatty Catties takes place in such universe. At the center of the film is the tabby cat Leonard (voice of deaf actor John Autry II). His "relationship" with Shelby (Megan Hensley) isn't exactly fulfilling. She's a borderline alcoholic who whines all the time and is on the brink of losing her job. But then Shelby starts dating Nate (Matthew Grathwol), and the world seems a better place again, not because Shelby becomes emotionally stable, but because Nate is everything Leonard ever wished for in a human.